From the Research
Hand foot and mouth disease is primarily treated with supportive care, focusing on managing symptoms, as it is a viral infection that typically resolves on its own within 7-10 days. Treatment includes acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for fever and pain, using adult doses of 325-650mg every 4-6 hours for acetaminophen (not exceeding 4000mg daily) or 200-400mg every 4-6 hours for ibuprofen (not exceeding 1200mg daily) 1. For children, follow weight-based dosing on the medication package. Maintain hydration by drinking plenty of fluids, especially cold liquids like popsicles or ice chips that can soothe throat pain. Soft foods are recommended if mouth sores make eating difficult. Salt water rinses (1/2 teaspoon salt in 1 cup warm water) can help relieve mouth sore discomfort. Some key points to consider in the treatment of hand foot and mouth disease include:
- The use of intravenous immunoglobulin for severe or complicated cases, as recommended by several national and international guideline committees 1
- The importance of practicing good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, to prevent the spread of the disease 2
- The need to seek medical attention if symptoms are severe, if dehydration occurs, or if symptoms don't improve after 10 days
- The potential for atypical manifestations of the disease, such as eczema coxsackium or nail changes, which may require additional consideration in diagnosis and treatment 3
- The development of vaccines to confer protection against the most common causative agents, although simultaneous circulation of multiple viruses and modification of the molecular epidemiology of infectious agents can make vaccine development challenging 4.