Hand, Foot and Mouth disease


Clinical

Coxsackievirus Painful Yellow lesion with red Halo. Thanks to SciencePhotoLibrary
  • Coxsackie virus (more serious Enteroviuus clusters in Asia)
  • Person to person spread
  • Max children 1 - 4 years (common up to 10 years)
  • Sores in mouth, rashes on hands & feet and buttocks.
    • "Textbook" vesicles occur at junction of hard and soft skin (palm, sole/ankle area)
  • Commonest cause mouth sores (painful, small yellow sores, red halo) children
  • Painful eating then hand rash
  • May have low fever, anorexia, sore throat, abdo. pain for 7 days
  • Usually mild but beware dehydration and occasional arthropathy
  • Clinical diagnosis
  • Rarely progress to encephalitis / transverse myelitis (flaccid - so do neuro exam)
  • Hydration, analgesia (mouth ulcers), control pyrexia
  • Keep from school only if ill (may attend school if rash alone)


Content by Dr Íomhar O' Sullivan. Last review Dr ÍOS 12/04/23.