What causes hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease in children. In recent years, there have been frequent outbreaks around the world, especially in summer and autumn. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide a detailed analysis of the causes, transmission routes and preventive measures of hand, foot and mouth disease to help parents better protect the health of their children.
1. Causes of hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is mainly caused by enteroviruses, the most common of which areCoxsackievirus A16 (Cox A16)andEnterovirus 71 (EV71). The following is a classification of the main pathogens:
| Virus type | Proportion | Pathogenicity |
|---|---|---|
| Coxsackie virus type A16 | about 50% | Symptoms are mild, and a few may cause complications |
| Enterovirus 71 | about 30% | May cause serious illness, such as meningitis and pulmonary edema |
| Other enteroviruses | about 20% | Symptoms vary and are usually mild |
2. Transmission routes of hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is mainly spread through the following ways. Parents should pay special attention to:
| Transmission route | Specific methods | Precautions |
|---|---|---|
| contact spread | Contact with the patient’s herpes fluid, saliva, feces, etc. | Wash your hands frequently and avoid sharing items |
| droplet spread | droplets when a patient coughs or sneezes | Wear a mask and maintain ventilation |
| Gastrointestinal spread | Consuming food or water contaminated with the virus | Pay attention to dietary hygiene and cook food well |
3. High-risk groups and symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is more common inChildren under 5 years old, especially children in child care institutions. The following are typical symptoms and course of disease:
| symptom stage | performance | duration |
|---|---|---|
| Early stage | Fever, loss of appetite, sore throat | 1-2 days |
| peak period | Herpes or sores on your hands, feet, or mouth | 3-7 days |
| recovery period | Herpes scabs and body temperature returns to normal | 7-10 days |
4. How to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease?
The key to preventing hand, foot and mouth disease is to cut off transmission routes and enhance immunity. Here are specific suggestions:
1.personal hygiene: Teach children to wash their hands frequently, especially before meals and after going to the toilet; avoid touching their mouth, nose, and eyes with their hands.
2.Environmental health: Disinfect toys, tableware and clothing regularly; maintain indoor ventilation.
3.Vaccination: EV71 vaccine can effectively prevent severe hand, foot and mouth disease, and is recommended for children aged 6 months to 5 years old.
4.quarantine measures: Children should be quarantined at home until 1 week after symptoms disappear to avoid infecting others.
5. Recent hot topics
According to the network-wide data in the past 10 days, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases has increased significantly in the following areas, and prevention needs to be strengthened:
| area | case growth rate | Main virus types |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong Province | +35% | EV71 |
| Zhejiang Province | +28% | Cox A16 |
| Sichuan Province | +20% | Other enteroviruses |
Conclusion
Although hand, foot and mouth disease is common, scientific preventive measures can effectively reduce the risk of infection. Parents should pay close attention to their children's health and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms occur. At the same time, the whole society needs to jointly strengthen hygiene promotion and create a safe environment for children to grow up.
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