Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common illness seen mostly in children and caused by a virus named Coxsackie virus. The same type of disease called Foot and Mouth disease seen in animals and cattles but both are different diseases. HFMD is common childhood disease but very rarely known and indentified.
Commonly seen in children under 10 years of age. Also more commonly adults like pregnant women are at risk of contracting the disease to herself and to the unborn child.

Transmission of Disease - It is very contagious disease and transmitted via sneezing and coughing. It is transmitted from person to person contact like direct contact with the fluid in the blisters.

Symptoms of HFMD

• This virus usually causes very mild symptoms or sometimes no symptoms at all.
• Usually the symptoms starts as sores and ulcers in the mouth with tiny blisters on the foot and hand. The fluid in this blister contains the virus called Coxsackie.
• Mild fever and sore throat is present.
• Children are highly contagious during the first week of disease as virus remains active for 7 to 8 days.

Prevention of HFMD

• The most important step to prevent HFMD is to maintain the good hygienic conditions like washing your hands with antibacterial soap before eating food or after using toilet.
• Always use napkin to cover your face and nose while sneezing and coughing.
• Do not share the same clothes, napkins or utensils with the infected person.
• Wash the clothes and utensils of infected person separately to avoid further transmission of disease.
• Mother should always wash her hand before changing the diapers of infant.
• Infected child must avoid playing with other non- infected children at least for one week.

Treatment
Usually there is no particular treatment for this disease. Symptomatic treatment is always recommended.

• If fever is present then ibuprofen or paracetmol is given.
• Avoid spicy food to reduce the painful blisters. Spicy and citrus food can cause aggravation of the mouth ulcers.
• Eat bland and cold food like non citrus juices, ice cream, mild homemade food, etc.

Complications
There are no common complications of HFMD as disease is very mild. Very rarely HFMD can be serious causing Meningitis (Inflammation of brain or layers of brain) if the patient is not fully recovered from the disease. Infants or unborn child may suffer from serious complications if pregnant mother has the disease as the disease can be transferred to her unborn child.