What is hand, foot and mouth disease from a western medicine perspective?
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by a virus (usually from the coxsackie group of enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie virus A16). It causes blisters on the hands and feet, in the mouth and often in the ‘nappy’ area. It is generally a mild disease that lasts 7 to 10 days.
HFMD is more common during warmer weather and tends to spread easily between
HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years of age, but can also affect older children and adults. Outbreaks may occur in childcare settings. By the time they are adults, most people have been infected with the virus that causes this disease.
What is hand, foot and mouth disease from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective?
HFMD is a febrile disease recorded in medical classic “Shang Han Lun” caused mainly by an accumulation of damp–heat and toxicity in the body. The occurrence of damp-heat is based on water and wetness, which may come from outside or may be caused by internal damage. The water and wetness can change into heat if they are stored in the body for a long period, and the combination of water and wetness and heat may cause damp-heat syndrome.
Spread of hand, foot and mouth disease
This infection is spread by direct contact with fluid from the skin blisters, nose and throat discharges (including saliva, sputum or nasal mucus), droplets (sneezing, coughing) and faeces (poo). Good personal hygiene is important to prevent spread of the infection to others.
The skin blisters of HFMD are infectious until they become crusty and there is no fluid in the blisters. The virus may also be shed in the faeces for several weeks after the blisters resolve.
Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
People usually develop symptoms between 3 to 7 days after being infected.
The most common symptoms include:
- fever
- sore throat
- small, blister-like lesions that may occur on the inside of the mouth, sides of the tongue, palms of the hands, fingers, soles of the feet and ‘nappy’ area
- children are often irritable, tired, and may be off their food.
Very rarely, the virus can affect the lining of the brain or spinal cord, leading to more severe symptoms such as seizures, confusion, unsteadiness, and weakness.
Diagnosis of hand, foot and mouth disease
Diagnosis is usually made by your doctor based on symptoms. Other tests are not usually required, but occasionally throat or faeces samples may be taken.
Western Treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease
HFMD is a mild illness that resolves within a week. There is no specific treatment and usually none is required.
Use paracetamol (not aspirin) as directed for fever and any discomfort. Offer plenty of fluids, but avoid orange juice, which is acidic and may cause pain with mouth ulcers.
Allow blisters to dry naturally. Do not pierce blisters, as the fluid within them is infectious.
Prevention of hand, foot and mouth disease
Good personal hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of HFMD to others, both for those infected and their carers:
- Wash hands carefully with soap and water after contact with the blister-like lesions, after handling nose and throat discharges, and after contact with faeces such as with toileting and nappy changing.
- Use separate eating and drinking utensils.
- Avoid sharing items of personal hygiene (such as towels, washers and toothbrushes) and clothing (particularly shoes and socks).
- Thoroughly wash and clean any soiled clothing and surfaces or toys that may have been contaminated.
- Teach children about cough and sneeze etiquette, immediate disposal of tissues, and to wash hands afterwards.
Treatments using Traditional Chinese medicine.
Specific acupuncture points are selected to reduce severe effects of HFMD and to reduce the damp heat in the body to accelerate recovery.
A unique herbal recipe inherited from thousands of years throughout the generations is then prescribed to eliminate the virus in the body.
Case study: Facebook review
News about HFMD outbreak in Australia
BY: Admin
Immunity
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