Hand foot and mouth

Dear Ask The Doctor: Wot is hand foot and mouth deces and how can i help my 1 year old grandson has got it and dose he have to stay away from his 4 week old sister

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by certain types of viruses. It typically affects these areas of the body, although some rashes and/or blisters may be found on the buttocks and groin. This virus can be spread through contact w/ saliva, blister fluid, nasal discharges, etc. The first week if illness is the most contagious period. The disease usually resolves spontaneously after ~1-2 weeks. There are several types of viruses that can cause this illness. There are a few types of the virus that can affect the brain, most especially on newborns. I strongly suggest that your grandson should stay away from his sister since newborns have a relatively immature immune system and this way, serious consequences may be prevented. Treatment of this disease is usually symptomatic. If he has high grade fever, antipyretics (Paracetamol) may be given, the dose should correspond with the weight of the child of course. For sore throat, there are a few home remedies that may help. Warm tea or warm lemonade may soothe the throat (DO NOT use honey in kids under 2 years old because it may cause Botulism), eating lots of citrus fruits, drinking lots of fluids. Gargling with warm saltwater or mouthwash is also a good idea but one-year-olds don’t know how to gargle. An enjoyable way of soothing sore throat is having some fruit popsicles. Make sure it is made of fruit juice, not powdered juice. If all of these do not help, analgesics (Advil) may help to ease sore throat.