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

Adults with hand, foot and mouth disease usually experience fever, oral ulcers, erythema or blisters on the palms and soles, and some patients may also experience sore throat and general fatigue. A clear diagnosis and symptomatic treatment should be taken as soon as possible. If persistent high fever or other serious symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner.

1 Skin symptoms: The typical manifestations of hand, foot and mouth disease are erythema, blisters or ulcers on the palms, soles, inside the mouth and buttocks. These rashes may be accompanied by mild itching or pain, but generally do not leave scars. When adults develop these rashes, the center is usually blister-like and the surrounding skin is red, so be alert to whether it is a viral infection.

2 Oral pain and ulcers: Hand, foot and mouth disease in adults can cause painful ulcers in the mouth, especially in the buccal mucosa, gums and tongue, which can cause pain when eating and difficulty swallowing. This is caused by mucosal damage caused by the virus, and gargling with moisturizing liquid can relieve the symptoms.

3 Systemic manifestations: Some patients may experience fever, general fatigue, joint pain, and mild sore throat. These symptoms usually appear in the early stages of infection and usually last no more than 3 days. If the fever exceeds 39°C or lasts for several days, you should consider seeking medical attention in a timely manner.

4. Continuous high fever and neurological symptoms: Although complications are rare in adults with hand, foot and mouth disease, severe cases may be accompanied by neurological symptoms such as headache, vomiting, convulsions, and confusion. The main cause is enterovirus EV71 infection. In this case, you need to seek medical attention immediately.

For the treatment of mild hand, foot and mouth disease, the following methods can be adopted:

Relieve skin symptoms: Apply a cream containing calamine to promote healing of redness and blisters.

Oral pain relief: Drink more cool water or take iced liquid food to relieve pain. You can also use dequalinium lozenges to relieve ulcer discomfort.

Relieve fever: If you feel uncomfortable with fever, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. While reducing fever, you should pay attention to rest more and drink plenty of water.

Adults with hand, foot and mouth disease should be isolated to avoid cross infection, and should also pay attention to their own immune status. If the relevant symptoms continue to worsen or fail to ease, they should go to the dermatology or infectious disease department of the hospital as soon as possible to clarify the condition and receive treatment. In addition, the key to preventing and controlling hand, foot and mouth disease is to maintain daily hygiene habits, including washing hands frequently and avoiding contact with sources of infection.