Hand, foot, and mouth disease (Coxsackie virus infection)
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (Coxsackie virus infection)
Hand foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral infection. It is a common virus in young children and is associated with sores in the mouth and rashes on the hands and legs. Hand, foot, and mouth disease are the most common and caused by a *coxsackie Virus*. There’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease only lifestyle changes help reducing or preventing the infection.
Symptoms
Hand, foot, and mouth disease cause all of the following signs and symptoms. Some people experience some of them. All possible symptoms include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Feeling unwell (malaise)
- Pain
- Red, blister-like lesions on the gums, inside of the cheeks, and also the tongue
- Rashes without itching but in some cases with blisters, on the palms and soles
- Irritability in infants and toddlers
- Loss of appetite
The usual period from catching infection to the onset of signs and symptoms is 3 to 6 days. Fever is the most common and initial sign of hand foot and mouth disease, which is further followed by a sore throat and sometimes malaise.
Causes
The most common cause of hand foot and mouth disease is infection with coxsackievirus. Oral ingestion is the main source of affected by coxsackievirus infection and develop hand foot and mouth disease. This disease spreads from person to person. If you have close contact with an infected person’s or
- Nasal secretions or throat discharge
- Mucus drops
- Liquid blisters
- Stool
- Respiratory droplets in the air after coughing or sneezing openly.
Although if an affected child with hand foot and mouth disease during the first week of getting ill, the virus remains in the body for weeks after the signs and symptoms are gone. The child can still infect others. Particularly adults pass the virus without showing any signs or symptoms of the disease.
Treatment
As told above there is no specific treatment for hand foot and mouth disease. Symptoms of hand foot and mouth disease usually end in seven to 10 days.
A topical oral anesthetic will be helpful in relieving the pain of mouth sores. Over the counter pain relievers (other than aspirin) like acetaminophen Tylenol, or ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, others also help to relieve general discomfort.
Home remedies
Several foods and beverages cause blisters on the tongue and in the mouth or in the throat. Trying these tips will help reduce these blistering and soreness and eating drinking more tolerable:
- Have ice pops.
- Have ice cream or juices.
- Drink cold liquids, such as milk or ice water.
- Avoid acidic foods and carbonated beverages, such as citrus fruits, drinks, or soda.
- Avoid salty or spicy foods.
- Eat soft foods that require not much chewing.
- Rinse your mouth with salt lukewarm water.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water after eating every meal.
If the affected child can rinse water without swallowing, the results will be very soothing. Make the child rinse several times a day or as needed to reduce the pain and inflammation by the disease.