A huge number of different microorganisms are present in the human gastrointestinal tract. That is why viruses-representatives of this microflora are most often called enteroviruses. Diseases, which are fraught with their activity, can be many. The most commonly diagnosed infectious pathology caused by enterovirus is hand-foot-mouth syndrome. Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis is one of the common forms of the disease, which will be discussed later.
How is enterovirus infection transmitted from person to person?
Several enteroviruses can provoke the onset of an ailment. Each of them is particularly resistant to environmental conditions. Indoors, at normal room temperature, their survivability often reaches a two-week period. These include enterovirus type 71 and the Coxsackie A and B. The incidence increases in the summer, as the activity of the pathogen reaches its peak at this time.
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome is an enteroviral vesicular disease that is contagious. The infection is transmitted in various ways:
- fecal-oral (especially often in this way infection occurs in children);
- contact household;
- airborne.
The bulk of enteroviruses is concentrated in human saliva and feces. You can become infected with the disease even with close contact, close conversation, the use of common dishes with the carrier.
Who is sick: children or adults?
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome in children is much more common. Explaining why this happens is quite simple: children, in contact with each other in a kindergarten, school, boarding school, rarely observe fully elementary hygiene rules. In addition, in children, often the immunity is still not ready for a meeting with pathogenic microflora, and when an enterovirus enters the body, the disease develops.
One contact with enterovirus is enough to ensure that the child develops immunity until the end of life. This is probably the main reason why hand-foot-mouth syndrome is practically not diagnosed in adult patients. Having been ill once, you are unlikely to experience re-infection on yourself. As an exception, it is worth noting the clinical cases when the syndrome occurs in adults. The disease affects people in adulthood. Failed contact with enterovirus in childhood means a lack of immunity to the disease, which means that the probability of infection with it is quite high.
The main group of manifestations of infection
From the moment of infection to the first signs of the disease, about a week passes. The patient begins to carry a danger to others with initial symptoms at the very early stage of the pathology. Despite the variety of clinical signs that characterize the “arm-leg-mouth” syndrome, enteroviral stomatitis is one of its most common manifestations. In most cases, the symptoms of the disease are similar to the course of acute respiratory infection. In particular, as well as in acute respiratory viral infections, in patients with hand-foot-mouth syndrome, one can notice:
- increase in body temperature;
- general weakness, malaise;
- headache;
- hyperemia of the oral cavity;
- sore throat.
How does the syndrome manifest on the patient's body?
Enanthema develops already a day after the general signs of infection. Rashes on the arms and legs, as well as on the area of the skin near the lips, can be added to it. After some time (usually 2-3 days), the temperature drops.
However, pathological skin rashes do not look the best way, besides they cause a lot of discomfort to the patient. Small peculiar vesicles occur on the mucous membranes. After the blisters on the cheeks, palate and gums begin to burst, small ulcerations remain, which eventually pass without a trace.
Additional signs of the disease
The same bubbles appear on the soles of the feet, palms, sometimes even on the buttocks. These formations are slightly different from those that occur in the mouth: they can have a red border that visually enhances the degree of inflammation, and sometimes look like flat red spots. The consequence of such rashes in most cases can be called flaky skin, the layer of which will be completely renewed in 10-14 days. A much less common complication of the disease is the stratification of the nail plates.
The concomitant symptoms of this condition include increased salivation, decreased appetite, which is most often caused by uncomfortable pain in the mouth. It is especially difficult for children to endure hand-foot-mouth syndrome: they become tearful, restless, capricious, and sleep poorly.
Symptoms of complications of enterovirus infection
Speaking about the prognosis of the disease, it is worth noting that it is very favorable. In very rare cases, especially with an identified pathogen of enterovirus type 71, in patients with this type of pathology, complications in the form of meningitis, encephalitis, etc. may develop. It is possible to understand that the course of the disease becomes complicated in nature, by the following signs:
- persistent fever at a body temperature of over 39.5 degrees;
- severe headache;
- constant vomiting
- drowsiness or excessive agitation;
- pain in the eyes.
The difficulty in treating this ailment lies in the late diagnosis of pathology. It is quite difficult to recognize the disease at a stage when it more closely resembles acute respiratory viral infections, given the fact that, in the presence of rashes, many perceive them for allergic manifestations. Moreover, every parent has enough reason to believe that way: take at least the repeated use of antipyretic and other medicines.
Anesthetic and antiseptic effect of medicines
The treatment of hand-foot-mouth syndrome cannot be called specific. Conventionally, the therapeutic complex can be divided into two categories, where the first include topical preparations, and the second - medications for oral use.
External treatment is of no small importance. Thanks to local therapy, the patient can get rid of pronounced pain. Among the drugs that are in demand in the treatment of this infectious disease, we can distinguish:
- "Lidocaine Asept." It is a combined drug that gives the strongest anesthetic effect. In addition, lidocaine has an antiseptic effect, but children are not allowed to use such a medicine.
- "Kamistad". It is produced in the form of a gel, applied directly to the affected area and left to act for a while. The drug also includes lidocaine and chamomile extract. The medicine has an anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effect.
- Hexoral Tabs. The medicine is available in tablets and in the form of a spray. It has antimicrobial properties.
What medications will help in the speedy healing of vesicles?
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome needs not only symptomatic therapy to relieve pain. It is important to achieve rapid regeneration of tissues affected by infection. Such drugs will help get rid of ulcers and achieve the speedy healing of bursting vesicles:
- Propolis (spray). Natural antiseptic, which is a natural stimulant of antiviral action. This drug is also an anti-inflammatory agent for external action. He has no contraindications, with the exception of individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
- "Carotolin". Increases local immunity, has a strong antioxidant effect, helping to accelerate the regeneration of the skin. Carotoline oil solution helps the body to be more resistant to pathogenic pathogens.
- "Imudon." Another well-proven drug for a long time. Promotes the production of immunoglobulin in salivary fluid, which activates phagocytosis.
Enterovirus antiviral drugs
The attending physician will also prescribe the passage of antiviral therapy. For this purpose, the following drugs are prescribed:
- Oxolinic ointment. Inexpensive and relatively effective tool. However, in most cases it is used as a prophylactic medicine that helps fight not only enterovirus, but also other pathogenic microorganisms.
- Tebrofen ointment. The external antiviral medication provides comprehensive treatment, actively fighting the inflammatory process and helping the affected tissues heal faster.
In most cases, despite the fact that patients do not seek medical help, recovery comes quickly enough.
With the normal course of the disease, therapeutic measures may not be required at all. Without any major intervention, sores go away on their own after a few days. However, at high temperatures can not do without the use of antipyretic drugs.
A few words about alternative treatment
If hand-foot-mouth syndrome is accompanied by pain and sore throat, it will be advisable to rinse. The most effective in the treatment of this disease are decoctions of herbs and various means prepared according to folk recipes. Alternative treatment advocates recommend using:
- linden flowers;
- chamomile;
- millennial;
- St. John's wort
- burdock;
- nettles;
- plantain.
Before taking any medications, it is worth consulting a doctor: only a specialist will provide qualified assistance and cure hand-foot-mouth syndrome. How to treat an infectious disease without specialists, many say. However, far from always advisers on forums have a medical education or enough experience in solving such problems.
Self-medication may not always give the expected result. Taking medication without a doctor’s prescription and prior recommendation can be dangerous for the patient’s health. Without control and monitoring, taking medications is fraught with serious complications and a deterioration in the general condition of the patient.
Fundamentals of Prevention
Prevention and treatment of hand-foot-mouth syndrome have two main directions. To get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of vesicular stomatitis and ulcers on the limbs, you need to follow simple rules, which are also considered effective preventive measures:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water after going to the toilet when you arrive home from the street.
- Do not touch your mouth with dirty hands.
- Use only your personal towel and other toiletries.
- Do not drink tap water, but use only purified or boiled water.
- Always wash vegetables and fruits.
How to increase immunity and prevent infection by an ailment?
To defeat hand-foot-mouth syndrome and prevent re-infection, attention must be paid to the body's immune forces.
In particular, a healthy lifestyle based on three principles will help to increase the natural level of “defense capability” of the human body.
- Enough to sleep.
- Do sport.
- Eat properly.
Judging by how the “arm-leg-mouth” syndrome manifests itself (the photo is able to demonstrate this more clearly), getting sick with it is almost unrealistic if you constantly monitor your own health.