Fighting off HFMD with Help from a Credible Littleton Pediatrician

The notorious hand-foot-and-mouth-disease (HFMD) is, once again, rearing its ugly head. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a more virulent strain triggered cases in four states over the winter of 2011-2012. Researchers found the timing of this outbreak odd, however, as increased prevalence of HFMD is usually observed in summer or fall, being triggered by the Coxsackie A16 virus.

HFMD cases, are known to trigger symptoms within a week of infection; but the lethal strain of HFMD noted by the CDC, which is a result of the Coxsackie A6 virus, has the potential to trigger symptoms as soon as four days after infection, with adults being susceptible as well. When the illness begins to show, a skilled pediatrician in Littleton like one from Focus on Kids Pediatrics may be called in to help address the problem. Littleton, Colorado is a town of moderate elevation with a solid medical support structure.

HFMD is often diagnosed in children between six months to four years of age, with transmission made possible through nose and throat discharges, or fluid from blisters. Symptoms present in regular or severe HFMD cases commonly include skin rashes at several areas of the body, sores in the mouth, and fever approaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the most severe HFMD cases may see the rash subside after some time, though not before skin peels, and fingernails and toenails fall off. Fortunately, the latter two can grow back between six months to a full year.        

A reliable Littleton pediatrician can be alerted over the phone in an emergency, especially if cases are serious. Parents of patients who may be suffering from severe HFMD can phone in if the patient is suffering dehydration. When the situation is not an emergency, the patient can just consult with the pediatrician at the soonest opportune office hours.

There are no specific treatments or cures against HFMD caused by coxsackie A16 or A6 strains. The viral nature of the disease makes antibiotic therapy irrelevant. Instead, the practitioner will recommend that the patient go on a soft diet, which includes heavy drinking of cold fluids. Supportive therapy and administration of analgesics when necessary can tide the patient over until the disease takes its course. Stomach ulcers, if any, can be addressed through conventional treatments such as liquid antacids.

Patients afflicted with HFMD could soon be back to normal if they follow their pediatricians' action plans to the letter. A pediatric practice like Focus on Kids will explore all options to help its patients, even to the point of explaining the difference of HMFD with foot-and-mouth disease, which has actually been a cause of confusion among many people.