Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children: Symptoms & Treatment In Noida

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease(HFMD) is a widespread viral infection, especially among young children. Parents in Noida seeking expert care can consult a Pediatric HFMD specialist in Noida for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms should be attended to early in order to achieve comfort and avoid transmission. Effective HFMD treatment in Noida helps children recover swiftly while minimizing discomfort and complications.

Worried about the symptoms of your child? Call our pediatric department at +91 9667064100

What is Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease?

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease in children, also known as HFMD or foot-mouth disease, is termed a highly contagious disease and the infection spreads rapidly when the healthy person comes in contact with the infected one. This contagious viral infection is noticed more commonly in children and causes small, painful red blisters in the mouth, throat, feet, hands, and the diaper area. The virus causing most hand, foot, and mouth infections is coxsackievirus.

The carriers of hand, foot, and mouth disease are unwashed hands, faces, saliva, mucus, and leaking fluid from the blisters. Children under the age of 7 years are more prone to contracting hand, foot, and mouth disease as they attend schools, preschools, day care centers, and summer camps where the kids are closely placed together.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Symptoms

HFMD symptoms in kids usually start showing up usually 3 to 6 days after the infection. Such a period is also called the virus incubation period. Hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause all or some of the following symptoms:

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Mood irritability

• Malaise or the generalised feeling of not being well

• Small red blisters that develop in the mouth, throat, foot, and diaper area and are painful to touch

• Drooling in infants & toddlers

• Red rashes on the hands and soles of the feet
   

In the early stages of hand, foot, and mouth disease, the first apparent symptoms are fever and sore throat. The symbolic rashes and blisters start showing up after 1 or 2 days of fever. In dark-skinned kids and adults, the red spots may be harder to notice. It is advised to check the palms and feet where the symptoms may be visibly noticeable.

Causes of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

The most common cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease is coxsackievirus, which is a group of nonpolio enteroviruses. HFMD spreads commonly through the mouth and spreads when a healthy person comes in contact with the infected one and the following bodily fluids and mediums are shared:

• Throat discharge or secretions through the nose

• Saliva

• Leaking fluid from the blisters

• Stool

• Water droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes

It’s important to note that Is HFMD contagious in kids? Yes, it spreads very easily, especially in communal settings. But humans cannot catch or spread the disease to animals.

Risk Factors

It is young children that are at the highest risk of developing hand, foot, and mouth disease as they attend schools, preschools, and daycare centres where children are kept together inside a closed setting. This acts as a perfect breeding ground for viruses. Children below 7-10 years usually develop immunity themselves after contracting the infection. However, it is possible for children and adults with weaker immune systems to contract HFMD.

HFMD Diagnosis

Hand, foot, and mouth diseases can be easily diagnosed by doctors through a physical examination. The doctor will also check your mouth, feet, and hands for any apparent rashes and blisters and ask for more symptoms to reach a confirmed diagnosis. To support the same with conclusive diagnostic evidence, your doctor may also advise going for a throat swab or stool sample to check for the virus.

Treatment

Since it is a mild infection with a high transmission rate, the symptoms are usually mild and go away within 7 to 10 days without any treatment. In cases where the symptoms get uncomfortable and painful, the doctor may advise certain treatments till the disease runs its complete course. Here are some options for HFMD treatment for children your doctor will advise you:

• Topical ointments available over-the-counter or with prescriptions. Such ointments work well in soothing blisters and rashes.

• Certain pain-relieving medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen for relief from throbbing headache

• Cough-relieving syrups or throat lozenges to soothe a sore throat
   

Home Remedies

If the HFMD symptoms aren’t that severe and seeing a doctor isn’t required, you can also resort to certain home remedies for hand, foot, and mouth disease to relieve of the symptoms. You can try the following easy home remedies to ease the painful blisters:

• Keeping ice lollies and popsicles in the mouth

• Eating cold ice cream and sherbets

• Drinking cold beverages

• Cutting down on soda, citrus fruits, and fruit drinks

• Avoiding spicy, salty, and fried foods
   

Swishing your mouth with warm salt water multiple times a day helps immensely in getting relief from the pain caused by blisters.

Preventing Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Practising optimal hand and overall hygiene is the best way to avoid contracting hand, foot, and mouth diseases. Kids and adults who practice regular handwashing several times a day are at minimal risk of getting the virus.

Educate your children on the importance and the correct way of washing hands frequently, specifically after using the restrooms, and public toilets, before and after eating, and after being out in public.

Parents should regularly engage in disinfecting toys, pacifiers, kids shared objects and other things that are at risk of being susceptible to the virus. If you or your child is believed to be suffering from HFMD symptoms, it is best not to send them to a school or daycare center. Keep the infected person in isolation to avoid contact with others. All these measures help in preventing hand, foot, and mouth disease and spreading the risk of infection among others.

When to See a Pediatric HFMD Specialist in Noida

Consult a physician in case the child:

• Has fever above three days long.

• Has dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, decreased wet diapers)

• Has deteriorated mouth pain, or cannot eat or drink.

• Acquires a serious rash or behavior and consciousness disturbance.

• Early consultation with a Pediatric HFMD specialist in Noida can reduce discomfort and complications.
   

For expert diagnosis and care, consult a Pediatric HFMD specialist in Noida today at +91 9667064100

Conclusion

HFMD is a widespread disease in young children, yet it is possible that with the discovery of HFMD symptoms in children at an early age and appropriate treatment, the vast majority of children are healed without complications. Parents in Noida can access advanced HFMD treatment in Noida through specialists who provide safe, effective care. Hygiene and contact reduction are the most effective in preventing spread in the case of illness.

FAQs

Q.1. What is the average length of HFMD in children?

Ans. With the right treatment, most children are cured in 7 to 10 days.

Q.2. Should my child go back to school after contracting HFMD?

Ans. Children are required to remain at home until the recovery of the fever and blisters to prevent infection.

Q.3. What can I do to help my kid with the pains in his/her mouth after having HFMD?

Ans. Give cold tender foods and take proper pain relievers as prescribed by the doctor.