HOW to know if your child has it?
-When a child contracts hand-foot-mouth disease, he usually begins to feel crummy 3 to 7 days after he was exposed.
-One of the first signs that parents will notice is the unwillingness of their children to eat solids.
-The child could also begin to feel tired, have a sore throat or succumb to a fever of around 38°C to 39°C. In a day or two, sores develop in the mouth. They start of as small red spots on the tongue, gums or mucous membranes which can blister and form ulcers.
-Skin rash may also develop over a day or two. The spots are red and are either flat or raised. They are found on the palms, soles and even on the buttocks. Often, the red spots become tender blisters, with the exception of the ones at the buttock, and these blisters may break open and crust over.
-However, unlike chickenpox, the rash does not itch. Usually, within a week, the blisters should go away and the child would feel better.
HOW is HFMD diagnosed
A diagnosis is made based on a child’s medical history and having a physical examination. Lab tests can be taken for the coxsackieviruses and other enteroviruses, but are usually unnecessary. However, hand-foot-mouth disease can be confused with strep throat, which can also begin with a fever and sore throat. It can be mixed up with any of the childhood exanthems, also, chickenpox, due to the blisters that surface and ear infections given that ear drums may appear red.