What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease in adults?

Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease in adults include oral ulcers, rashes on the hands and feet, fever, etc. Some patients may also experience headaches, sore throats or gastrointestinal discomfort. Early identification of symptoms and timely medical diagnosis and treatment are the key to avoiding further development of the disease.

1. Fever: Adults with hand, foot and mouth disease usually have fever symptoms in the early stage, with body temperature above 38°C, accompanied by general fatigue, headache and other symptoms. Fever is an immune response caused by viral infection and usually eases within a few days. In this case, you can take antipyretics such as acetaminophen appropriately, and regulate the symptoms under the guidance of a doctor. It is very important to maintain adequate water intake.

2 Oral ulcers: This is one of the most characteristic symptoms. Painful blisters or ulcers will appear on the patient's mouth, tongue and oral mucosa. Ulcers can cause loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing. You can relieve pain by gargling with warm salt water, avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce irritation to the mouth, and keep the mouth clean to prevent secondary infection.

3 Rash: Patients may develop red maculopapular rashes or blisters on the palms, soles, fingers, toes, etc., which may be accompanied by a slight itching sensation. The number of rashes is usually small, but the texture is hard. It is important to avoid scratching the rash and keep the affected area dry and clean. If the itching is severe, you can use anti-allergic ointment under the doctor's advice.

4. Indigestion and sore throat: Adults sometimes experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, or sore throat. It is recommended to choose liquid or semi-liquid food, such as chicken soup and rice porridge, and avoid greasy and fried food to reduce the burden on the stomach.

Although hand, foot and mouth disease in adults is mostly mild, some patients may develop complications such as myocarditis and encephalitis due to insufficient immune system. If you find the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time and receive professional examination and guidance from the doctor. Maintaining good personal hygiene habits such as washing hands frequently, avoiding sharing of utensils, and exercising appropriately to improve immunity can help prevent the occurrence and spread of hand, foot and mouth disease. If the symptoms continue to worsen or confusion or high fever persists, you should go to the hospital for treatment immediately.