Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious illness caused by enteroviruses. It spreads readily through direct contact with secretions from the nose, throat, blister fluid, or feces of an infected person. The disease is most common in children under 5 years old.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Dinh, a pediatrician at Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi, the disease is characterized by red rashes or blisters on the hands, feet, knees, and buttocks. While most cases are mild and resolve on their own within 7-10 days, HFMD can lead to rare yet serious complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, or viral myocarditis. Several factors contribute to children frequently contracting HFMD.

Multiple virus strains

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by various enterovirus strains, with EV-A71, CV-A16, and CV-A6 being the most common. When a child contracts the disease, their body develops immunity only to the specific strain they were infected with, offering no protection against other strains.

Dr. Dinh advises parents to ensure children's hand hygiene and disinfect toys and daily items. Parents should seek immediate medical attention if a child shows severe signs, including persistent high fever, lethargy or irritability, frequent vomiting, startling, trembling limbs, rapid breathing, or cyanosis.

A doctor examines a child with hand, foot, and mouth disease before discharge. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*.

Immature immune system

Young children have a higher reinfection rate because their immune systems are not fully developed and they have less exposure to various virus strains. Factors increasing the risk of infection include malnutrition (deficiencies in vitamins A, C, zinc, or iron), chronic illnesses, or congenital defects such as congenital heart disease, asthma, or congenital immunodeficiency, which also weaken the immune system.

To minimize the risk of recurrent HFMD, parents should focus on boosting children's immunity through a balanced diet, adequate supplementation of vitamins A, C, D, zinc, and iron. Children also need sufficient sleep and appropriate physical activity for their immune system to function optimally.

Crowded living environments and poor hygiene

The virus can survive on surfaces like doorknobs, tables, chairs, and toys, entering the body when children touch them and then put their hands in their mouths. While the average time between two infections is about 12 months, children can be reinfected sooner in crowded environments. Poor hygiene creates conditions for the virus to re-enter the body. Children who habitually suck their hands or objects further increase their risk of reinfection.

Dr. Dinh notes that children can contract HFMD multiple times during their early years. Currently, a hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine available in some countries can prevent the disease caused by the EV-A71 virus, but it does not protect against other virus strains. The most crucial preventive measures remain maintaining hygiene, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and ensuring children's good health.

Hang Tran