We mommies always go the extra mile to make sure that our babies are protected from the most serious to not-so illnesses. One of the most common illnesses experienced by baby, toddlers, and preschooler is “Hand, Foot and Mouth disease” Find out what is it, how it spreads, its symptoms and diagnosis, and they ways to prevent it.

What is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease?
Hand foot and mouth disease is a disease caused by viruses under the ​Enterovirus group. ​Enteroviruses are a genus of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses associated with several human and mammalian diseases. Enteroviruses are named by their transmission-route through the intestine. ​It is usually common for children but an adult may also get contaminated by the disease. Although it is mild, it is quite contagious and can easily spread. This particular disease is identified with sores in the mouth, hand, and feet. It usually last up to a week only.

How does Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spread?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease can easily spread. A person may get infected when come in contact with an infected person's stool, saliva and fluid from blister. It can also spread when an infected person coughs and sneezes. Direct contact with areas that have been exposed with an infected person may also cause the disease. For example a mother changed her infected daughter's' diaper, her other child may have come into contact with the area where the mother changed the diaper, that child will most like get infected if the area was not cleaned and sanitized properly.

Symptoms of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
A baby infected with hand-foot-and-mouth disease may show symptoms such as high fever, loss of appetite, sore throat, sores in the body particularly in the hands, feet, and inside the mouth although the sores may extend in the buttocks and neck. An infant will get irritable when infected. It usually takes a week or less for an infected person to show sign of the disease.

How is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Diagnose?
A doctor can diagnose this disease with a simple physical examination. The doctor will most likely take a look of the sores or blister. They would also get a sample of the stool or take a throat swab.

How is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Treated?
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease usually goes away after several days even without treatment. Although there are some home remedies that are use in treating the disease.
Drinking and eating cold thing such as ice cream, juice, and popsicles helps in reducing the soreness in the throat. Acidic and spicy food should be avoided at all cost. Sometimes a doctor may also prescribe over the counter medicine such as ointments for the sores and blisters, pain killers such as ibuprofen and the likes.

How is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevented?
Proper hygiene is the key! This particular disease can easily avoided if we make hand washing a habit. We should always wash our hands with soap and water before and after contact of the toilet. If you are a mother of an infant, you should wash your hands after changing the diaper of your child. We should also properly clean and sanitize areas and objects that we usually come into contact. Avoid coming into contact with persons infected with the disease.