What Medicine Is Good for Foot Fungus

What Is Foot and Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness that typically occurs in infants and children up to five years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here's everything you need to know about the illness, including symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention steps.

Symptoms

Hand, foot and mouth disease is typically mild and does not cause an abundance of symptoms. Sometimes, sores, blisters or a red rash are the only symptom your child will experience. They may appear on your child's hands, feet, buttocks and inside his or her mouth, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your child may also run a fever, have a sore throat or lose his or her appetite. In infants and smaller children, you may see irritability and general malaise, reports both the Mayo Clinic and the CDC.

Causes

While the illness almost always occurs in children under the age of five, older children, teens and adults can get it too. Some researchers believe that younger children get it because they haven't yet built up an immunity to the virus that causes it, reports the American Academy of Dermatology. Several different viruses cause the illness, and they spread through contact with bodily fluids such as feces, urine, respiratory droplets, saliva and fluid from blisters, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease tends to occur more frequently throughout the warmer seasons of the year in the United States, and it's more common in children who attend daycare.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors typically diagnose the illness by performing a simple physical exam of the blisters and other symptoms and comparing these with the child's age, reports the CDC. They may also take a throat culture or fecal sample and request a lab test for analysis. There's no treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease, and it typically goes away on its own after 10 days, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Doctors can treat the symptoms, such as pain and fever, with medications and prescribed lifestyle changes, the organization also reports.

Complications

On the very rare occasion, complications may arise from the illness. Some children may become dehydrated because the blisters and sore throat prevent them from eating and drinking. Temporary loss of the toenails and fingernails may also occur. Other rare but potential complications are viral meningitis and encephalitis, which can lead to a paralysis similar to that found in polio patients, reports the CDC.

How to Prevent It

Hand, foot and mouth disease is highly contagious, and while you can't prevent it completely, both the Mayo Clinic and CDC offer tips that can reduce your child's chances. Wash your hands after changing diapers and before serving food. Make sure areas where children interact with each other are disinfected regularly, such as playgrounds, daycare centers and preschool classrooms. Clean your child's toys often, too. As children grow, teach them how to have good hygiene. If your child does develop the illness, keep him or her home from school, daycare and social activities until the blisters have healed.

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What Medicine Is Good for Foot Fungus

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