Hand, foot, mouth disease

Question 1

Define

Answer 1

Most commonly due to Coxsackie A16 virus (SEVERE: Enterovirus 71) (Atypical: Coxsackie A6)
* Common under 10yo; very contagious
* Don’t need to be kept from school but HPA recommend they do until better
* Primarily transmitted via the faecal-oral and respiratory droplet routes

· Signs & symptoms:

• Painful, itchy, vesicular lesions (hands, foot, mouth, tongue, buttocks)
• Blanching petechial scar
• Mild systemic features – fever, sore throat, spots in mouth → develop into ulcers

Management:

o Supportive (virus; fluids, analgesia, rest) -> will clear in 7-10 days

o Safety net: dehydration, if it doesn’t clear up in 2 weeks, pregnancy