Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) by Nunu Tarma

CDC Page

ntarma — 2023-12-06 04:13:59 UTC

What is HFMD?

ntarma — 2023-12-06 04:25:15 UTC

HMFD is a viral disease found common mostly in young children under 5; however, anyone who comes in contact with the disease can get it as the disease is very contagious. The disease is caused by coxsackievirus, a virus that mainly affects the hand, foot, mouth, and sometimes the buttocks. The virus causes the child or person to have painful red blisters/rashes on the body parts affected. The virus can pass through close physical contact, such as holding hands, hugging, coughing, etc. The virus will usually begin in the throat and spread itself to body parts where the virus is most affected.

Causative Agent

ntarma — 2023-12-06 04:30:50 UTC

Image of coxsackievirus

Symptoms

ntarma — 2023-12-06 05:00:29 UTC

Mild symptoms tend to last for 7 to 10 days.

Symptoms include:

Fever/ Flu-like symptoms
Mouth Sores
- Red spots begin to form on the tongue and inside of the mouth
  - Tend to be painful, causing the child to have a problem with eating and drinking
Skin Rash
- Found on legs, arms, and even buttocks
- Found to be slightly raised, red spots.
  - Fluid may be found in the rash, containing HFMD

Diagnosis/Treatment

ntarma — 2023-12-06 05:18:03 UTC

There is no specific medical treatment for HFMD as it gets better on its own within 7 to 10 days. However, there are treatments to relieve fever and pain and prevent dehydration.

Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen an help relieve the pain for the child.
Despite the pain the child may have when swallowing, do the best you can to make your child drink enough water.

Prevention

ntarma — 2023-12-06 05:23:01 UTC

Wash your hands with soap and water
Avoid contact with people who are sick
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as it is the most common way HFMD virus can enter the body.
Clean and disinfect your surroundings

Vaccine

ntarma — 2023-12-06 21:58:42 UTC

In China, they are working on a vaccination for children to decrease the number of cases of HFMD. They recently released an inactivated EV-A71 vaccine to the public in 2016 decreasing EV-71, the main enterovirus that causes HFMD. As you can see in Figure 1, part C, EV-71 was one of the highest enteroviruses that caused sickness to children from 2013 to 2015, but after the vaccine for the virus came out, data showed that there have been fewer EV-71 cases going around in China.

Research paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36613612/

ntarma — 2023-12-08 08:54:30 UTC

Researcher: Xinglong Zhang

ntarma — 2023-12-08 09:04:53 UTC

Xinglong Zhang, PHD, Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), A*Star

HFMD Recognition

ntarma — 2023-12-08 10:30:40 UTC

Links

ntarma — 2023-12-08 23:48:32 UTC

Infographic: https://stock.adobe.com/images/hfmd-children-infected-poster-detail-of-hand-foot-mouth-disease-infographics-with-symptoms-prevention-and-treatment-cartoon-health-concept-vector-illustration/359584219

EV-71: https://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/ev-a71.html

Coxsackievirus Infections: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coxsackie.html#:~:text=Coxsackieviruses%20can%20cause%20symptoms%20that,can%20appear%20on%20the%20buttocks.

HFMD Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353035