What Every Parent Needs To Know About Hand-mouth-foot-disease

Causes Of HFMD

Hand-mouth-foot disease is the result of a couple of different strands of the same virus, the coxsackievirus, specifically the coxsackievirus a16 and enterovirus 71. The coxsackievirus is part of a family of viruses known as enteroviruses. Enteroviruses are composed of a single strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA), and the enteroviruses are referred to as picornaviruses, as it is considered a ‘small RNA virus’ that is not typically serious. These family of viruses are present in numerous countries around the world and spread by fecal-oral route. Approximately, ninety percent of infections do not cause any noticeable symptoms or may result in a fever only. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to symptomatic coxsackievirus, however, adults can catch the virus as well. Individuals and children can become infected with the disease if they come in contact with an infected person, especially if they come into contact with nasal secretions or throat discharge, saliva, fluid from blisters, stool, and respiratory droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze.

Keep reading to learn about the various symptoms patients and parents should be aware of if they or their child become infected.