What You Should Know about Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease is very common, especially among children.
Dr. Nathan Bexfield, M.D., a board-eligible pediatrician, wants to educate the public more about it in hopes to help reduce the spread of the disease and allow parents to be informed if or when their child develops the symptoms.
Dr. Bexfield says that hand, foot and mouth disease is a virus meaning that you do not need an antibiotic for it to go away. It will go away on it’s own. The only medication you may want to consider is to treat the symptoms such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen. The discomfort of having the rash in your mouth can be partially soothed by eating cold foods such as ice cream and also eating soft foods such as jello and pudding.
The virus is spread through body fluid and is the most contagious during the first week you have the disease and it rarely causes any complications.
In order to prevent the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease, Dr. Bexfield suggests good hand washing, good hygiene and keeping your surfaces and toys clean.
Although a visit to the doctor will most likely not result in any quicker of a recovery, if you feel the need to see one he encourages you to do so.
Dr. Bexfield has a short video he produced for KSL that you can watch here.
