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Introduction
Hand,
Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFM) is a common childhood
illness caused by a virus and marked by painful mouth
sores.
Causes
The virus usually
responsible is a tongue twister known as Coxsackie.
Coxsackieviruses belong to a family of
viruses called enteroviruses. These viruses live in
the gastrointestinal tract, and are therefore present
in feces.
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of
hand-foot-mouth disease.
Symptoms may include:
blister-like bumps in the mouth
blister-like bumps on the palms of the hands and the
soles of the feet; bumps may also e seen on the arms,
legs, and diaper area.
The vesicles in the mouth cause the majority of
discomfort, and the child may refuse to eat or drink
due to pain. This phase usually lasts for an average
of a week.
Treatment There are no treatments available to cure or
decrease the duration of the disease. Medications like
acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be helpful for
decreasing pain, and allowing the child to eat and
drink. It is important to try to encourage the child
to take in adequate amounts of fluids.
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