“How to treat hand, foot, and mouth disease?”
I want to know how to treat hand, foot, and mouth disease? I also have abdominal pain.
Male | 18 years old
Medications: Ibuprofen
Conditions: Hand foot mouth disease
2 Answers
I can offer some general advice on managing hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). HFMD is typically a mild and self-limiting viral illness that primarily affects children, but it can affect individuals of any age, including adults. Here are some general guidelines for managing HFMD:
1. **Rest and Hydration:** Get plenty of rest and drink fluids to stay hydrated. This is especially important if you have abdominal pain, as dehydration can exacerbate this symptom.
2. **Pain and Fever Relief:** Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (if not contraindicated for your condition) can help alleviate pain and reduce fever. Follow the dosing instructions on the label or as directed by your healthcare provider.
3. **Oral Hygiene:** Gargling with warm saltwater or using a soothing mouthwash can help relieve sore throat or mouth sores. Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth gently to prevent further irritation.
4. **Soft Diet:** Opt for soft, bland foods that are easier to swallow and less likely to irritate mouth sores. Avoid spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods that can worsen discomfort.
5. **Pain Relief for Abdominal Pain:** If you're experiencing abdominal pain, it's best to avoid ibuprofen, as it can irritate the stomach lining. Acetaminophen may be a safer choice for pain relief.
6. **Isolation:** HFMD is contagious, so it's essential to avoid close contact with others, especially infants, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, until you are no longer contagious. Stay home from work or school if you have HFMD.
7. **Handwashing:** Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food.
8. **Disinfection:** Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
9. **Avoiding Irritants:** Avoid activities that could further irritate the mouth sores, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
10. **Seek Medical Attention:** If you experience severe symptoms, have difficulty swallowing, or notice signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dark urine, decreased urine output), consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and appropriate treatment.
It's important to note that HFMD is caused by a virus (commonly Coxsackievirus A16 or Enterovirus 71), so antibiotics are not effective against it. The illness typically resolves on its own within a week or two.
If you have concerns about your symptoms, especially abdominal pain, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and personalized guidance based on your specific condition. They can also help determine if there are any complications that need attention.
1. **Rest and Hydration:** Get plenty of rest and drink fluids to stay hydrated. This is especially important if you have abdominal pain, as dehydration can exacerbate this symptom.
2. **Pain and Fever Relief:** Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (if not contraindicated for your condition) can help alleviate pain and reduce fever. Follow the dosing instructions on the label or as directed by your healthcare provider.
3. **Oral Hygiene:** Gargling with warm saltwater or using a soothing mouthwash can help relieve sore throat or mouth sores. Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth gently to prevent further irritation.
4. **Soft Diet:** Opt for soft, bland foods that are easier to swallow and less likely to irritate mouth sores. Avoid spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods that can worsen discomfort.
5. **Pain Relief for Abdominal Pain:** If you're experiencing abdominal pain, it's best to avoid ibuprofen, as it can irritate the stomach lining. Acetaminophen may be a safer choice for pain relief.
6. **Isolation:** HFMD is contagious, so it's essential to avoid close contact with others, especially infants, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, until you are no longer contagious. Stay home from work or school if you have HFMD.
7. **Handwashing:** Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food.
8. **Disinfection:** Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
9. **Avoiding Irritants:** Avoid activities that could further irritate the mouth sores, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
10. **Seek Medical Attention:** If you experience severe symptoms, have difficulty swallowing, or notice signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dark urine, decreased urine output), consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and appropriate treatment.
It's important to note that HFMD is caused by a virus (commonly Coxsackievirus A16 or Enterovirus 71), so antibiotics are not effective against it. The illness typically resolves on its own within a week or two.
If you have concerns about your symptoms, especially abdominal pain, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and personalized guidance based on your specific condition. They can also help determine if there are any complications that need attention.
Hello HFM questionner,
Hand, Foot & Mouth disease (HFM) is a viral illness and antibiotics are rarely needed unless there is a secondary bacterial infection of a skin sore. All treatment is symptomatically oriented. For the hand and foot, often no treatment is needed if the individual is comfortable. Itch occasionally is bothersome. For itch, one might take an age appropriate dose of Zyrtec or Benadryl by mouth. Often, application of your favorite non-scented skin moisturizer is beneficial for comfort. If a skin blister becomes unusually red and tender, application of OTC 1% hydrocortisone 2-3x a day will reduce the inflammation. The HF blisters spontaneously improve within 7-10 days. Achieving comfort is the goal.
For one’s mouth, comfort again is the goal. Needless to say, good oral hygiene is beneficial. Mouth blisters can occur on the inner lips, the gums, the roof of the mouth and the back of the mouth. Gentle toothbrushing, dental flossing, and mouth swishing of mouthwash or warm water is wise. Appropriate choices of foods and liquids for ingestion, e.g., sounds, bland foods should be comfortably swallowed. Avoid excessive salt as it will sting mouth blisters. Citrus juices can also stings. You can eat and drink anything that you feel is comfortable and avoid what you feel is especially uncomfortable within the mouth. For oral pain, including sore throat, one can take an appropriate dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen. There are OTC gels that you can apply to painful mouth blisters or ulcers. Your pharmacist can recommend various options.
Other than these common sense interventions, time is your best friend. Recovery should occur within 10 days or so. Please do consult your doctor if you are very ill and cannot achieve a reasonable degree of comfort.
Good luck. This is a common illness and rarely requires prescription medications. This advice also is contingent on you having made the correct diagnosis.
Dr. T
Hand, Foot & Mouth disease (HFM) is a viral illness and antibiotics are rarely needed unless there is a secondary bacterial infection of a skin sore. All treatment is symptomatically oriented. For the hand and foot, often no treatment is needed if the individual is comfortable. Itch occasionally is bothersome. For itch, one might take an age appropriate dose of Zyrtec or Benadryl by mouth. Often, application of your favorite non-scented skin moisturizer is beneficial for comfort. If a skin blister becomes unusually red and tender, application of OTC 1% hydrocortisone 2-3x a day will reduce the inflammation. The HF blisters spontaneously improve within 7-10 days. Achieving comfort is the goal.
For one’s mouth, comfort again is the goal. Needless to say, good oral hygiene is beneficial. Mouth blisters can occur on the inner lips, the gums, the roof of the mouth and the back of the mouth. Gentle toothbrushing, dental flossing, and mouth swishing of mouthwash or warm water is wise. Appropriate choices of foods and liquids for ingestion, e.g., sounds, bland foods should be comfortably swallowed. Avoid excessive salt as it will sting mouth blisters. Citrus juices can also stings. You can eat and drink anything that you feel is comfortable and avoid what you feel is especially uncomfortable within the mouth. For oral pain, including sore throat, one can take an appropriate dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen. There are OTC gels that you can apply to painful mouth blisters or ulcers. Your pharmacist can recommend various options.
Other than these common sense interventions, time is your best friend. Recovery should occur within 10 days or so. Please do consult your doctor if you are very ill and cannot achieve a reasonable degree of comfort.
Good luck. This is a common illness and rarely requires prescription medications. This advice also is contingent on you having made the correct diagnosis.
Dr. T
