Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness. As summer is hot and humid, it is the peak season for this disease. When this disease occurs, we may find some blisters on the patient's skin, similar to chickenpox. Therefore, we often mistake it for chickenpox. Now let's understand the early symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease together, so that we can detect and treat it earlier.
1. Loss of appetite and mouth pain
Hand, foot and mouth disease in children can cause loss of appetite, fever, and mouth pain. Ulcers or blisters may appear on the oral mucosa, which are very common on the tongue and cheek mucosa. It may also affect the gums, tonsils, and throat. Children with this disease may show irritability, crying, drooling, and refusal to eat while having a fever or 1-2 days after the fever starts.
2. Fever and cough
Most children with hand, foot and mouth disease have a sudden onset, first showing a high fever with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, accompanied by headache, cough, runny nose, and other symptoms. The fever persists and the higher the temperature, the longer the duration and the more severe the condition. Most children recover with decreased body temperature and fading rash within a week.
3. Blisters on hands and feet
Patients will also develop papules on the buttocks, hands, feet, and legs, which will then transform into blisters. The blisters will be surrounded by inflammatory redness, with a small amount of fluid inside. The hands and feet are more affected, and the palms and backs of the hands may also be involved. After the blisters subside, no scars will be left.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in children is a relatively mild self-healing disease. Most babies will recover on their own. However, a small number of severe cases may be complicated by myocarditis or encephalitis, although this possibility is very low. The entire course of the disease lasts about 1 week. As long as the care is appropriate, it generally does not cause any serious consequences and does not leave any scars on the skin. Therefore, parents do not need to worry too much, just take care of the baby's diet and daily life.
