How to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in daily life

As the weather gets hotter in summer, hand, foot and mouth disease is likely to cause trouble for children every season.

According to the disease pattern, the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease shows an upward trend in March every year, and the first peak of the disease will come from April to July. Young parents, are you ready to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease and keep your baby from getting it? The medical community will lead everyone to first understand what hand, foot and mouth disease is.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease in children. It is widely prevalent around the world, with an incubation period of 3-7 days. The clinical symptoms are mainly fever, oral mucosal herpes or ulcers, and skin rashes on the hands, feet, buttocks, etc. Some children may develop neurological complications, such as lethargy and aseptic meningitis. Some children with severe and rapidly progressing conditions may develop neurogenic pulmonary edema or even systemic multiple organ failure and death. However, don't be too nervous. 99% of children have mild symptoms, mainly fever, and only about 1% of children will develop severe symptoms. At this time, they need to go to a hospital with treatment conditions for timely treatment.

How hand, foot and mouth disease is transmitted

1. Children directly inhale throat secretions and saliva and other respiratory droplets ejected when the sick child coughs, causing transmission;

2. Children spread the virus by contacting items contaminated by patients, including towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk utensils, bedding, underwear, etc.;

3. Transmission is caused by directly drinking or eating water or food contaminated by the virus;

4. Transmission is caused by cross infection in outpatient clinics of medical institutions or improper disinfection of oral instruments.

What are the early signs of severe illness? How can parents detect it? First, the child is relatively young, generally under 3 years old; second, the fever is higher than 38.5℃ and lasts for a long time; third, the child vomits, is drowsy, has shaking limbs, has rapid breathing and heartbeat, and is listless.

How to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in daily life?

Children under 5 years old are at high risk of hand, foot and mouth disease, especially those aged 6-12 months. The risk of severe illness and death from hand, foot and mouth disease caused by EV71 virus is higher than that of other age groups, so prevention is the key.

1. Children of appropriate age can be vaccinated. The hand, foot and mouth disease vaccine currently used in my country is an inactivated vaccine against enterovirus EV71.

2. In a family with two children, it is best to care for the two children separately. When one of them is sick, parents should pay attention to isolation and avoid the two children playing together, hugging, sharing towels and tableware, etc.

3. When parents are caring for children with hand, foot and mouth disease, they should pay attention to protecting themselves, avoid direct contact with herpes on the hands, feet, mouth and other parts of the children, wear masks, take protective measures, and reduce the chance of cross infection.

4. Parents should set a good example by washing their hands and face after coming home from outside and after any contact with children, and cover their mouth and nose when sneezing.

5. Cultivate good hygiene habits in children: wash hands frequently, eat cooked food, ventilate frequently, and get some sun.

6. Keep the home environment clean. Wash and dry dishes, toys, towels, clothes, bedding, etc. frequently, disinfect them regularly, and open windows in the room for ventilation.

(Medical Science Editorial Department)