Editor's note: Recently, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued health tips, focusing on the prevention and prevention of COVID-19, hand, foot and mouth diseases. So, as a common infectious disease in children, what are the symptoms of HFMD? What protection should parents do for their children? How to nurse the baby who got hand foot mouth disease?
HFMD mainly occurs in children aged 5 years and below. In China, the high incidence season of HFMD is from April to June every year. In some areas (especially in the south), there will be a small peak in autumn from October to November.
What are the symptoms of hand foot mouth disease?
Hand foot mouth disease is mainly caused by close contact with patients' feces, herpes fluid, nasopharyngeal secretions, saliva and their contaminated hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, tableware, feeding bottles, bedding and other objects or environments.
HFMD is usually mild and self limiting, and can recover completely after 7-10 days. Children often have fever, anorexia, fatigue or sore throat at the initial stage of the disease. After 1-2 days of fever, blisters appear on the tongue, gums, and/or the inside of cheeks and other oral parts, with obvious pain. These blisters are small red spots at the beginning, and then form ulcers.
In addition, most children will have skin rashes on their palms and soles of their feet. The rashes are usually not itchy. Some rashes have blisters, and other parts such as buttocks, knees, elbows, and trunk may also have rashes. Some cases had no fever. A few patients will have serious complications, such as encephalitis, brainstem encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, cardiopulmonary failure, etc.
Parents should take these precautions for their children
There are many kinds of viruses that cause HFMD, but EV71 virus is usually the main cause of severe disease and death. For children from 6 months to 5 years old, vaccination may be considered. At present, China has developed a vaccine to prevent hand foot mouth disease caused by EV71 virus. Parents are suggested to vaccinate children according to their physical conditions. At present, EV71 vaccine belongs to Class II vaccine, and parents can choose to vaccinate according to the principle of "knowing, voluntary and self paying".
In addition, pay attention to personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene. Wash your hands with clean water, hand sanitizer or soap before touching your mouth and nose, eating or handling food, going to the toilet, contacting herpes/respiratory secretions, changing diapers or handling items contaminated by feces; Cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or paper towel when sneezing or coughing, and then wrap the paper towel and throw it into a covered dustbin; Do not share towels or other personal belongings with others; Do not contact patients and their polluting articles, or pollute the environment; Do not swim or play in the swimming pool without disinfection treatment. Frequently clean and disinfect (chlorine containing disinfectant) the surfaces of objects or objects that often contact, such as toys, furniture, etc. After cleaning, use chlorine containing disinfectant to wipe or soak for disinfection. After 30 minutes of use, use clean water to wipe or rinse. Nasopharyngeal secretions, vomitus, feces and their pollutants and polluted environment of patients should be cleaned and disinfected by trained personnel. Try to avoid taking children to participate in group activities during the prevalence of HFMD.
Nursing guide for "hand foot mouth" baby
At present, there is no specific medicine for hand foot mouth disease. Antibiotics are ineffective. It is mainly symptomatic treatment. Most children can heal themselves. Therefore, nursing is particularly important. Parents should also focus on the following points when taking care of children:
Diet - light is appropriate. Because of oral herpes, babies may refuse to eat. They can drink more warm water, eat light and digestible porridge or pasta, and do not eat stimulating food;
Fever - frequently measure body temperature. Physical methods or drugs can be used for cooling;
Oral cavity - keep clean. Rinse your mouth frequently. Rinse your mouth with light salt water before and after meals. For babies who cannot rinse their mouth, gently clean their mouth with a cotton swab dipped in light salt water;
Rashes - prevent scratching. Children's clothes should be made of comfortable and soft fabrics, and their nails should be cut frequently to prevent children from scratching their rashes;
Disinfection and ventilation - cooking, sunlight and chlorine bleaching. Alcohol has no effect on hand, foot and mouth virus. Things used by children, such as clothes, towels, tableware, toys, can be sterilized with boiling water, sun exposure or chlorine containing disinfectant. The room should be regularly ventilated by opening windows. (Beijing Youth Daily of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention) (Drawing: Sun Hongli)
