Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), also known as "hand, mouth and foot syndrome", is an acute febrile rash infectious disease caused by infection with enteric viruses (such as EV-A71, coxsackie virus A16, etc.). It can occur throughout the year, with spring and summer peaks in April-July and autumn peaks in September-November, and the mortality rate exists to a certain extent.

 Hand, foot and mouth disease usually lasts 3 to 6 days (incubation period) from initial infection to onset of symptoms. The main manifestations are loss of appetite, fatigue and sore throat, rashes and herpes on the hands, feet, mouth, and generalized fever. Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a minor disease, but in some severe cases it can be complicated by toxic meningitis, encephalitis, respiratory infections, and myocarditis. There are various modes of transmission, including direct contact with the nasopharyngeal secretions, saliva, etc. of an infected person, or contact with items contaminated with the virus.

 Most ordinary cases are acute onset with scattered herpes on the hands, mouth, feet, hips and other sites, so the diagnosis can be made based on its clinical manifestations. A variety of ancillary tests, such as etiological tests or serological tests, are needed for judgment when comparing clinical diagnoses is difficult.

 There are no specific antiviral drugs to treat hand, foot and mouth disease. Focus on symptomatic support such as antipyretic and oral care. Patients should drink plenty of water and get enough rest, while also treating symptoms with medication to relieve the pain caused by fever and mouth ulcers.

 The key to preventing hand, foot and mouth disease lies in maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene.

 Wash your hands frequently, frequently using soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds, especially before touching your mouth and nose in front of your eyes, before eating, before handling food, after contact with blisters and after using the toilet. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and immediately discard the tissue and wash your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer cannot replace hand washing.

 Use public chopsticks and spoons during meals and avoid sharing food or drinks with others. Do not share towels or other personal items with others.

 Avoid close contact with patients. If unwell, stay home, do not go to work or school, and seek medical attention promptly.

 Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (such as furniture, toys). Can be disinfected with 1:99 dilution of household bleach, leave for 15-30 minutes and rinse and wipe dry. Make sure the bleach is used within the expiration date, diluted bleach should be used within 24 hours.

 After cleaning up visible dirt (such as secretions, vomit), disinfect the contaminated area and surrounding area with 1:49 diluted household bleach, leave for 15-30 minutes and rinse and wipe dry.

 手足口病（HFMD）也稱「手口足綜合征」，是由腸道病毒（如EV-A71、柯薩奇病毒A16等）感染引起的急性發熱出疹性傳染病，高發人群主要是嬰幼兒及兒童，尤其是5歲以下的幼兒。全年均可發病，4-7月為春夏季高峰，9-11月為秋季高峰，且病死率在一定程度上存在。

 手足口病從初次感染到出現症狀通常為3至6天（潛伏期）。主要表現為食慾不振、疲倦和喉嚨痛，手、足、口腔等部位的皮疹及皰疹，以及全身發熱。手足口病通常是一種輕微疾病，但某些重症病例中可併發病毒性腦膜炎、腦炎、呼吸道感染和心肌炎等。傳染方式多樣，包括直接接觸感染者的鼻咽分泌物、唾液等，或接觸被病毒污染的物品。

 多數普通病例為急性起病，手、口、足、臀等部位散發性皰疹，因此可根據其臨床表現做出診斷。對臨床診斷比較困難時，需要多種輔助檢查來進行判斷，如病原學檢查或血清學檢查。

 目前尚無特效抗病毒藥物治療手足口病。重點做好退熱、口腔護理等對症支持。患者應多喝水和有充足的休息，同時亦可用藥物治療症狀，以紓緩發燒和口腔潰瘍所致的痛楚。

 預防手足口病的關鍵在於維持良好的個人及環境衞生。

 勤洗手，經常使用肥皂和清水洗手至少20秒，尤其在觸摸口鼻眼前、進食前、處理食物前、接觸水皰後及如廁後。打噴嚏或咳嗽時用紙巾掩蓋口鼻，並立即丟棄紙巾及洗手。酒精搓手液不能替代洗手。

 用膳時使用公筷公匙，避免與他人共享食物或飲料。不要與他人共用毛巾或其他個人物品。

 避免與患者有親密接觸。如身體不適，應留在家中，不要上班或上學，並及時求醫。

 定期清潔和消毒常接觸的表面（如傢俬、玩具）。可使用1:99稀釋家用漂白水消毒，靜置15-30分鐘後沖洗抹乾。確保漂白水在有效期內使用，稀釋後的漂白水應在24小時內使用。

 清理可見污物（如分泌物、嘔吐物）後，使用1:49稀釋家用漂白水消毒污染區域及周邊，靜置15-30分鐘後沖洗抹乾。

 

Understanding hand, foot and mouth disease 瞭解手足口病（點擊看全文）