The greatest fear of every parent is that their children will get sick or hurt. And there’s nothing worse than when your child is seriously ill and you don’t know what’s wrong or how to help.
So, it’s comforting to know that some diseases aren’t as dangerous as they look. Take hand-foot-and-mouth disease, for instance. It mainly affects children under the age of 10 and looks quite uncomfortable. But the truth is that the symptoms are more annoying than dangerous.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a common infection that occurs most commonly in late summer and autumn. Red spots form in and around the mouth and on the hands and feet of preschool-aged children, though adults can also become infected.
The reason why hand-foot-and-mouth disease is so common is precisely because it is easily transmitted. All it sometimes takes to spread is a handshake, a kiss, or merely being in the same room.
Even if this disease’s symptoms are annoying and scary looking, it’s important to know that the red spots aren’t usually life-threatening. In fact, the symptoms are mild, and, besides the spots, can also include flu-like symptoms including fever and a sore throat. But definitely seek care if the infected person gets a high fever or the symptoms last for longer than a week.
There is no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and the symptoms usually disappear on their own within a week. Regular pain killers can soothe pain in the mouth, which can be painful while the infected person is eating.
People who become infected with this virus normally don’t contract it again. But if the infection recurs, it is usually milder than the first time.
If you suspect someone in your area has been hit by hand-foot-and-mouth disease, it’s important to practice good hygiene in order to prevent its spread.
It usually takes three to seven days from the time of infection to when symptoms to appear, and the disease is most contagious during the first few days after the symptoms have appeared.
Please share this information with all of the parents you know!
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