We have
had a case of Hand, Foot and Mouth in nursery. There is usually no need for
medical treatment but there is information below for you to read.
Hand,
foot and mouth disease is a common infection that causes mouth ulcers
and spots on the hands and feet.
It's most
common in young children – particularly those under 10 – but can
affect older children and adults as well.
Hand,
foot and mouth disease can be unpleasant, but it will usually clear up by
itself within 7 to 10 days. You can normally look after yourself or your child
at home.
The
infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep
and pigs.
Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
The
symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually develop between three and five
days after being exposed to the infection.
The first
symptoms may include:
- a high temperature
(fever), usually around 38-39C (100.4-102.2F)
- a general sense of feeling
unwell
- loss of appetite
- coughing
- abdominal pain
- a sore throat and
mouth
Mouth ulcers
After one
or two days, red spots appear on the tongue and inside the mouth.
These
quickly develop into larger yellow-grey mouth ulcers with red edges.
The
ulcers can be painful and make eating, drinking and swallowing difficult. They
should pass within a week.
Spotty rash and blisters
Soon after the mouth ulcers appear, you'll probably notice a rash made up of small, raised red spots on the skin.
These
typically develop on the fingers, the backs or palms of the hand, the soles of
the feet, and occasionally on the buttocks and groin.
The
spots may then turn into small blisters with a grey centre.
The spots
and blisters can sometimes be itchy or uncomfortable and
typically last up to 10 days.
What to do if you or your child has hand, foot
and mouth disease
If you
have hand, foot and mouth disease, the best thing to do is to stay at home
until you're feeling better. There's no cure for it, so you have to let it run
its course.
To help
ease your or your child's symptoms:
- drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration –
water or milk are ideal; it may help to give a baby smaller but more
frequent bottle or breast milk feeds
- eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes,
yoghurt and soups if eating and swallowing is uncomfortable
– avoid hot, acidic or spicy foods and drinks
- take over-the-counter
painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to ease a sore
throat and fever – aspirin shouldn't be given to children under
the age of 16.
- try gargling with warm,
salty water to relieve discomfort from mouth ulcers – it's
important not to swallow the mixture, so this isn't recommended for
young children
- alternatively, use mouth
gels, rinses or sprays for mouth ulcers – these are available
from pharmacies, but aren't routinely recommended, and some aren't
suitable for young children; ask your pharmacist for advice and make sure
you read the instructions first
When to get medical advice
You don't
usually need medical attention if you think you or your child has hand, foot
and mouth disease. The infection will usually pass in 7 to 10 days, and there
isn't much your doctor can do.
Antibiotics won't
help as hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus.
If you're
unsure whether you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, you
can call NHS 111 or your GP for advice.
You
should also get medical advice if:
- your child is unable or
unwilling to drink any fluids
- your child has signs of
dehydration, such as unresponsiveness, passing small amounts of
urine or no urine at all, or cold hands and feet
- your child develops fits
(seizures), confusion, weakness or a loss of consciousness
- your child is
under three months old and has a temperature of 38C (101F) or above,
or is between three and six months old and has a temperature of 39C (102F)
or above
- the skin becomes very
painful, red, swollen and hot, or there's a discharge of pus
- the symptoms are getting
worse or haven't improved after 7 to 10 days
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