Children with hand, foot and mouth disease abstain from eating what?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a fairly common and contagious disease, usually appearing in children under 5 years of age. Hand, foot and mouth disease in young children should not be subjective because it can lead to dangerous complications if not treated and cared for carefully. So what should children with hand, foot and mouth disease abstain from eating?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by the Coxsackie virus. This virus is capable of spreading very quickly through the mouth, secretions from the nose, mouth, skin rashes and feces of sick children. Signs of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children are usually mild fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, sore throat, cough, abdominal pain, red rash on the skin... The rash on the baby's skin is usually painless, does not itch and does not itch. may take up to 10 days.
Hand, foot and mouth disease usually goes away on its own and does not threaten the health of children, but the disease can also cause extremely dangerous complications if the child is not cared for carefully.
Complications of hand, foot and mouth disease are usually:
Cardiovascular and neurological complications are very dangerous such as encephalitis, myocarditis, meningitis. What is more dangerous is that these complications are difficult to detect early if doctors and family members do not pay attention. Weakness or paralysis of the limbs; cranial nerve palsy. Hypertension. Circuit failure.

When a child has complications, if not treated properly and promptly, the child may die within a few hours.
Some signs suggest the risk of complications of hand, foot and mouth disease including: high fever that is difficult to lower continuously for more than 2 days; vomiting a lot, not accompanied by diarrhea; children crying, panicking, babbling, struggling; increased blood pressure; difficulty breathing, laryngeal stridor; convulsion.

2.1. Nutrition Taking care of young children during the period of illness and recovery is very important, especially nutrition for children to have good resistance against viruses that cause illness. Therefore, when having hand, foot and mouth disease, parents should:
Give the child soft, dilute and cold foods to be easily swallowed because at this time, the child's mouth is painful due to the rash. Eat small meals and don't try to force them to eat. Give children enough protein and zinc to create antigens and antibodies. Some egg products rich in protein and zinc include: eggs, meat (lean porridge), milk, yogurt, honey, watermelon,... Vitamin C supplements for children through foods such as green vegetables, papaya , coconut water,... When you see signs of broken blisters, you need to add more vitamin A to your child through foods such as carrots, corn... to prevent superinfection. For infants or 1-year-old babies with hand, foot and mouth disease who still need to breastfeed as usual, the number of times can be increased because the baby can't suck much at a time.

So, what to eat with hand, foot and mouth disease? When children have hand, foot and mouth disease, the issue of abstinence in eating is also very important to help the baby recover quickly. Therefore, parents should note:
Do not give children hard and hot foods because they will directly affect the ulcers, causing pain, difficulty eating and swallowing. Do not give your child salty, spicy, or greasy snacks, even though they are your child's favorite foods. At the same time, avoid choosing spoons and spoons with sharp edges to feed children; do not touch the sores at the tip of the tongue and lips, causing pain to the child, leading to fear, not eating. 2.2. Maintain proper hygiene Have children rinse their mouths and let them rest after eating. Wash hands thoroughly with soap when cooking, before and after caring for children with hand, foot and mouth disease. Do not allow children to break blisters on the skin. Disinfect utensils and clean rooms of sick children with antiseptic solutions. There is no need to abstain from bathing, this is a misconception because this will create conditions for bacteria to grow, which can easily lead to other dangerous diseases or complications. If the child is at school, the child should be dismissed from school immediately to avoid spreading the infection to other children.

There is currently no vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease. Therefore, the most effective measures to control the disease include:
Limit children's contact with patients, do not bring children to crowded places when the epidemic season breaks out. Give your child a nutritious diet to strengthen the immune system to limit disease. Strengthen the immune system in babies by breastfeeding more; Children who are no longer breastfed can strengthen their immunity through nutrition, exercise, living habits, and healthy lifestyles. Do not serve rice and food for children; Do not let children eat, suck, or suck on toys. Keep the body and place of residence, utensils and items clean to destroy the source of bacteria and viruses. Wash hands and feet with soap and water under running water, especially before preparing food, before and after feeding, holding children, after using the toilet, after changing diapers and cleaning for children. Sick children must be isolated for at least 10 days from the onset of illness and not allow children with suspected signs of hand, foot and mouth disease to go to class or play with other children to prevent the spread of the disease
Master. Doctor. Nguyen Thi An, former Head of Pediatrics Department, Quang Ninh General Hospital, is a person who is very passionate about health care for children and successfully treats many difficult cases. Currently, is a Doctor of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Department of Neonatology at Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.