How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease in children

Hand, foot and mouth disease in children is usually mild and can be relieved through home care and medication, but if a high fever persists or neurological symptoms occur, medical attention should be sought immediately. Treatment methods mainly include medication to relieve symptoms, dietary adjustments, and attention to hygiene protection.

1. Drug treatment

Hand, foot and mouth disease is mostly caused by enterovirus. There is currently no specific antiviral drug, and treatment is mainly symptomatic:

Antipyretics: such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, are used to relieve fever symptoms. They must be used according to doctor's instructions to avoid excessive dosage that may cause side effects.

Oral care medication: For herpes or ulcers in the mouth, you can use compound iodine rinse or children's oral care gel from the pharmacy to help relieve pain and promote healing.

Topical medication: For rashes on the hands and feet, you can apply calamine lotion to reduce itching and prevent children from scratching the skin and causing infection.

2. Diet adjustment

Children often refuse to eat during the illness due to the pain of oral herpes. Parents should provide light, easily digestible food:

Recommended foods: such as rice soup, porridge, and warm milk. Avoid giving children spicy, sour, or overheated foods to avoid irritating the ulcer.

Ensure water intake: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. You can choose light salt water, warm boiled water, or light fruit juice for your child to drink. When oral ulcers are severe, using a straw to reduce pain is a good way.

3. Health protection measures

Preventing bacterial infection and the spread of disease is an important part of recovery:

Hand hygiene: After each feeding or handling of the child's secretions, hands must be washed thoroughly using running water and hand soap with bactericidal effect.

Toy disinfection: Toys and tableware that children frequently touch should be rinsed and cleaned with hot water or disinfectant every day to avoid repeated spread of the virus.

Isolation and observation: Hand, foot and mouth disease is highly contagious. It is best not to let children come into contact with other children. If necessary, report to the school or childcare institution to ensure the detection and prevention of hidden infections.

If the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are severe, such as high fever for more than 3 days, difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting, cold hands and feet, drowsiness, etc., you need to be alert to encephalitis or other complications. It is recommended to take your child to the hospital immediately for further examination and treatment.

Family care during the onset of the disease is very important, and you should pay attention to changes in your child's condition. If you find any abnormalities or the condition worsens, you should get medical advice in time to ensure your child's early recovery and avoid sequelae.