When children have small red papules, vesicles, and oral vesicles on the palms, soles, buttocks, elbows, and knees, and they also have symptoms such as refusal to eat and drooling, parents should promptly take their children to the hospital for treatment. For children who can be treated at home after being examined by a doctor, they can take antiviral drugs such as Ribavirin or traditional Chinese medicine such as Banlangen preparations at home. They should also take vitamin C and B complex vitamins, and drink plenty of water. The temperature of the child's food should be low and the taste should be bland in order to reduce the pain in the child's mouth when eating. If there is a fever, antipyretic drugs can be used.
Most children can recover in 7-10 days with proper treatment and care at home. When children have symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, except for those who need hospitalization, they should be isolated at home for two weeks. During this time, children should not go to school or kindergarten, and it is best to avoid public places. Parents should pay close attention and take their children to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible if children under the age of 3 show symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease. For children with hand, foot, and mouth disease who are being treated at home, if they have high fever that does not go away, nausea, vomiting, poor mental state or restlessness, rapid breathing, tremors or weakness in limbs, they should be immediately taken to the hospital for hospitalization.
How to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease?
(1) Develop good personal hygiene habits, such as washing hands before meals and after using the restroom, and regularly ventilating the room.
(2) Avoid going to poorly ventilated places, such as large shopping malls, theaters, and sports arenas.
(3) Avoid contact with children who have hand, foot, and mouth disease.
(4) If there is a child with the disease at home, consciously refrain from taking the child to public places. The child's toys and clothes should be disinfected by exposure to sunlight or wiped with disinfectants containing chlorine (such as 84 disinfectant, bleach, etc.). The child's feces should also be treated with lime or bleach. Commonly used furniture at home should be wiped and disinfected with disinfectants containing chlorine. The child's utensils should be disinfected and stored separately.
