What Is Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a mild but contagious infection quite common in children. Its main cause is the coxsackievirus. It is characterized by mouth sores and rashes on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is the most infectious in the first seven days. The virus often stays in the body for weeks and can easily spread to others.
How Can You Get Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease? How Does It Spread?
The viral infection easily spreads through the spit or feces of the affected children. Even close contact with an affected individual puts other people at a high risk of contracting the disease. Wiping the nose of an affected child or changing his/her diapers are other ways the disease can spread. Hence, it is important you wash your hands thoroughly after any contact with patients. Let us now take a quick peek into the cause of this contagious disease.
What Causes Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease?
The most common cause of the hand-foot-and-mouth disease is the coxsackievirus A16 virus. This virus belongs to the group of non-polio enteroviruses. This infection most often spreads due to oral ingestion of infected food/water. It also spreads from direct contact with infected:
Nasal or throat discharge Stool Ruptured blisters Saliva Respiratory droplets from a sneeze or cough
Those with the disease exhibit the following symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease?
The common symptoms associated with hand-foot-and-mouth disease include:
A sore throat Fever Appetite loss Irritability (especially in infants and toddlers) Malaise Painful blisters inside the cheeks and on the tongue and gums A red rash with/without blistering that surfaces on the soles, palms, and in some cases, the buttocks
There is no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The symptoms of this disease usually start easing in 7-10 days. Most treatments are aimed at alleviating symptoms. While there are many medications available, you can try natural remedies – as they pose the least side effects.
11 Simple Remedies For Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease
1. Coconut Oil
1-2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil Cotton balls
You may do this once daily for best results. Coconut oil possesses both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (4). These may help treat the blisters and rashes.
2. Baking Soda Bath
½ cup of baking soda Water
You may do this once daily. While there is no study to prove this claim, anecdotal evidence suggests that baking soda is anti-inflammatory and can alleviate the symptoms of itching and inflammation.
3. Epsom Salt Bath
1 cup of Epsom salt Water
You may do this once daily or every alternate day. Epsom salt is also referred to as magnesium sulfate, thanks to its composition. Magnesium inhibits inflammation by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines in the body (5). Hence, it could be helpful in soothing the associated blisters and rashes.
4. Essential Oils
a. Lavender Oil
4-5 drops of lavender oil You may do this once daily for best results. Lavender oil is analgesic and anti-inflammatory and can possibly help relieve the painful rashes and blisters (6).
b. Tea Tree Oil
4-5 drops of tea tree oil You may use the tea tree oil infused hand wash multiple times daily if you are at risk of developing hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Tea tree oil is antimicrobial and can be used to disinfect and sanitize your hands/body from the harmful disease-causing germs (7). Do not use this remedy on babies or pregnant women.
5. Oatmeal Bath
1 cup of oatmeal Water
You can do this 1-2 times daily to alleviate the discomfort. Oatmeal is quite popular in dermatology, owing to its impressive anti-inflammatory properties. These can help soothe the inflammation that accompanies hand-foot-and-mouth disease (8).
6. Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon of cold-pressed coconut oil You can do this once daily, preferably every morning. Oil pulling with coconut oil can help alleviate the painful and inflamed blisters inside the mouth. This is due to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of coconut oil (4).
7. Ginger
1 inch of sliced ginger 1 cup of water
You can drink ginger tea twice daily. The antiviral property of ginger can speed up the healing of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (9). Ginger also has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties and can thus help improve the symptoms (10).
8. Garlic
1-2 garlic cloves You may do this once daily. The virucidal properties of garlic, combined with its anti-inflammatory properties, may help speed up your recovery from hand-foot-and-mouth disease (11), (12).
9. Elderberry
1 cup of water 2-3 teaspoons of dried elderberry
You may do this 1-2 times daily. Elderberry possesses immunity-boosting and antiviral properties that can ease the symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (13). It can also accelerate recovery.
10. Licorice Root
1 teaspoon of dried licorice tea 1 cup of water
You may do this 1-2 times daily for optimum benefits. Licorice root is a popular Chinese herb used to treat many illnesses due to its antiviral nature (14). These antiviral properties can also help treat hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
11. Aloe Vera
Freshly extracted aloe gel You may do this twice daily for best results. If you have extremely dry skin, add some moisturizer to aloe gel before application. Aloe vera gel possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help in soothing the inflamed rashes and painful blisters associated with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (15). Listed below are some tips that can keep you from contracting this disease.
How To Prevent Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease
Wash your hands multiple times a day, especially if you have been handling diapers or bathing an infected child. Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with dirty hands. Avoid close contact with affected individuals. Do not share utensils with infected individuals until they have recovered. Disinfect common areas like toilets regularly. Infected individuals must avoid venturing out until advised by the doctor.
What ointment is good for hand, foot, and mouth disease? Check out the infographic below to determine whether or not you or someone you know is likely to catch this disease. The 1% hydrocortisone ointment (over-the-counter) may help improve this condition. Additionally, home remedies like petroleum jelly or zinc oxide (topical ointments) may help heal the blisters. Can honey help treat hand, foot, and mouth disease? Yes. A mix of honey, finger millet flour, and natural soda ash solution is used to manage hand, food, and mouth disease (16). Should I take my child to the doctor for hand, foot, and mouth disease? Yes, especially if your child’s mouth sores or sore throat prevent them from drinking fluids. Does calamine lotion help with hand, foot, and mouth disease? There is no medication for hand, foot, and mouth disease. Calamine lotion may help relieve irritation. What is the quarantine period for those dealing with hand, foot, and mouth disease? Three to six days is the quarantine period for those dealing with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Can I put Neosporin on hand, foot, and mouth blisters? Yes. You can put antibiotic ointment (Neosporin) in small amounts on hand, foot, and mouth blisters.
