“My 4 year old toddler recently contracted HFMD. What could be the reason?”
My 4 year old toddler has recently contracted the HFMD infection. She goes to preschool. I went and checked in the school but as per the school authorities no other child has been suffering from this infection. What could be the reason behind her getting this infection other than school?
4 Answers
You can get exposed to the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease through:
Close personal contact, such as hugging an infected person
The air when an infected person coughs or sneezes
Contact with feces, such as changing diapers of an infected person, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands
Contact with contaminated objects and surfaces, like touching a doorknob that has viruses on it, then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands
It is also possible to get infected with the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease if you swallow recreational water, such as water in swimming pools. However, this is not very common. This is more likely to happen if the water is not properly treated with chlorine and becomes contaminated with feces from a person who has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Generally, a person with hand, foot, and mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away. Some people, especially adults, may become infected and not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to others. This is why people should always try to maintain good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, so they can minimize their chance of spreading or getting infections.
Close personal contact, such as hugging an infected person
The air when an infected person coughs or sneezes
Contact with feces, such as changing diapers of an infected person, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands
Contact with contaminated objects and surfaces, like touching a doorknob that has viruses on it, then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands
It is also possible to get infected with the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease if you swallow recreational water, such as water in swimming pools. However, this is not very common. This is more likely to happen if the water is not properly treated with chlorine and becomes contaminated with feces from a person who has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Generally, a person with hand, foot, and mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away. Some people, especially adults, may become infected and not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to others. This is why people should always try to maintain good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, so they can minimize their chance of spreading or getting infections.
Difficult to say. Does your daughter have contacts other than school?
Remember that someone can have the virus and be able to transmit without being sick and without the usual spots. Fortunately, you expect her to make a rapid recovery.
G. Dickinson
Remember that someone can have the virus and be able to transmit without being sick and without the usual spots. Fortunately, you expect her to make a rapid recovery.
G. Dickinson
Maira Jessica Medellin-Peña
Infectious Disease Specialist
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious illness that is spread from person to person by direct contact. There must have been contact with an infected person.
Regarding the source of the infection - preschool, daycare, kindergarten, Sunday school, places where children congregate and touch each other are typical higher risk places for transmission. Less typical could be transmission from adults who may or may not have symptoms.
The virus(es) who cause the disease are not transmitted by animals. Need good hand hygiene, washing with soap and water and handling diapers with disposable gloves in children who have the disease.
The virus(es) who cause the disease are not transmitted by animals. Need good hand hygiene, washing with soap and water and handling diapers with disposable gloves in children who have the disease.
