The hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection that is caused by the coxackievirus. This infection is highly contagious and can spread through contact as well as from mother to the child. Other routes of infection are the through body secretions including nasal and oral secretions, and via oro fecal and oral oral route respectively. The virus generally takes 3 to 6 days to present itself after entering into the body (Graham, 2009). The virus spreads by lodging itself in the oral mucosa and the mucosa of the ileum. This lodging into the body leads to rapid activity of the virus, with the spread of the virus in the body, the condition which is known as viremia (Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, 2008).
The disease can cause many complications and illnesses in the affected patients. The children are likely to have more severe symptoms than the adults. in expectant mothers, the introduction of the virus in the first trimester can lead to abortion or intrauterine growth retardation (Graham, 2009).
The patient may present with low grade fever, anorexia or decreased desire to eat, tiredness, abdomen pain, sore mouth and cough. In the mouth the presence of ulcerated macules of size ranging from 2 to 3 mm are seen (Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, 2008). There may be 5 to 10 vesicles present. These vesicles are usually painful and are found on the palate, the buccal mucosa, gingiva and tongue.
The presentation on the skin takes place in two thirds of the patients. The areas of the body involved are the feet, hands and the buttocks, with dorsal surfaces involved more commonly. The vesicles are identifiable due to their oval or elliptical appearance of 2 to 10 mm, with central grey appearance. The skin lesions do not cause any symptoms like the oral ones do, and usually heal within 3 to 7 days.
The treatment of the condition is usually symptomatic. Due to pain and ulceration, the topical use of anaesthetics is advised. For fever, antipyretics can be given and the body pain that is usually exhibited is often managed through pain killers.
Graham, Brad S, 2009. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Site last accessed on January 10th, 2010 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1132264-treatment
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease, 2008. Site last accessed on January 9th, 2010 from http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/hand_foot_mouth_disease.html