HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR HAND--FOOT--MOUTH DISEASE

Hand- foot- and- mouth disease is a viral infection  caused by coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolioenteroviruses. Other types of enteroviruses sometimes cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Oral ingestion is the main source of coxsackievirus infection and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The illness spreads by person-to-person contact with an infected person's:

·         Nasal secretions or throat discharge

·         Saliva

·         Fluid from blisters

·         Stool

·         Respiratory droplets sprayed into the air after a cough or sneeze

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most common in children in child care settings because of frequent diaper changes and potty training, and because little children often put their hands in their mouths.

Although your child is most contagious with hand-foot-and-mouth disease during the first week of the illness, the virus can remain in his or her body for weeks after the signs and symptoms are gone. That means your child still can infect others.

Some people, particularly adults, can pass the virus without showing any signs or symptoms of the disease.

Outbreaks of the disease are more common in summer and autumn in the United States and other temperate climates. In tropical climates, outbreaks occur year-round.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease), which is an infectious viral disease found in farm animals. You can't contract hand-foot-and-mouth disease from pets or other animals, and you can't transmit it to them.

Causes--The most common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is infection with the coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolioenteroviruses. Other types of enteroviruses sometimes cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Oral ingestion is the main source of coxsackievirus infection and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The illness spreads by person-to-person contact with an infected person's:

·         Nasal secretions or throat discharge

·         Saliva

·         Fluid from blisters

·         Stool

·         Respiratory droplets sprayed into the air after a cough or sneeze

Symptoms--Hand-foot-and-mouth disease may cause all of the following signs and symptoms or just some of them. They include:

·         Fever

·         Sore throat

·         Feeling of being unwell (malaise)

·         Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks

·         A red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks

·         Irritability in infants and toddlers

·         Loss of appetite

The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to six days. A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise.

One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days.

Risk factors--Hand-foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects children younger than age 10, often those under 5 years. Children in child care centers are especially susceptible to outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease because the infection spreads by person-to-person contact, and young children are the most susceptible.

Children usually develop immunity to hand-foot-and-mouth disease as they get older by building antibodies after exposure to the virus that causes the disease. However, it's possible for adolescents and adults to get the disease.

Complications--The most common complication of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is dehydration. The illness can cause sores in the mouth and throat, making swallowing painful and difficult.

Watch closely to make sure your child frequently sips fluid during the course of the illness. If dehydration is severe, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a minor illness causing only a few days of fever and relatively mild signs and symptoms. A rare and sometimes serious form of the coxsackievirus can involve the brain and cause other complications:

Viral meningitis. This is a rare infection and inflammation of the membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Encephalitis. This severe and potentially life-threatening disease involves brain inflammation caused by a virus. Encephalitis is rare.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

MERCURIUS SOL 30- Merc sol is one of the leading remedies for hand foot and mouth disease . Here mouth sores can be very severe and the person is very sensitive to heat and cold. There may have a fever before getting the blisters and may alternate between getting too hot with perspiration and becoming chilled at night. Becoming too hot or too cold makes the patient worse in general. The blisters tend to be more painful at night. One of the characteristic symptoms of Mercurius is the tendency to drool or to have an excess of saliva in the mouth. The breath of the patient may be quite offensive with pus visible on the tonsils or else where in the mouth.

ANTIMONIUM TART. 30-Antimonium tart is another effective remedy for this diseases. In  the chill stage of fever--.gooseflesh and icy cold skin. Heat stage of fever.--the patient clings to those around and wants to be carried. He does not want to be touched or looked at.Thirstless despite the dry parched tongue.Sweat stage of fever-profuse , cold , clammy or sticky , dry, cracked, parched tongue with whitish discoloration in the centre. Tongue tip and sides clean, moist and red. Thrush. There is craving for apples or apple juice.

BORAX 3X—Borax is another top remedy for this disease . The patient refuses to talk during fever. Desire for cold drinks and cold food during fever.There is great heat and dryness of mouth with white ulcers. White fungus-like growth, they are tender.Ulcers bleed on touch and eating. Painful red blisters on tongue. Sore mouth prevents infants from nursing. Fear of downward motion. Startle easily. Very sensitive to sudden noises .

BELLADONNA 200-Belladonna is prescribed when there is high temperature, with flushed face and the eye is sensitive to light.There is severe headache with either restlessness or drowsiness. The  rash is red in colour with a feeling of heat and throbbing.

BRYONIA ALB. 30-Bryonia alb is prescribed when a dry cough develops if the fever persists for several days. There is thirst for large quantities of cold water with dry mouth. The child feels worse from motion. Constipation is also occurs .

APIS MELLIFICA 30-Apis mel is prescribed when the eruption is pink and puffy and very itchy, with stinging pains. The eyelids may become swollen. The child feels worse from warmth , and is irritable. There is no thirst.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON 30-Rhus tox is prescribed when severe itching occurs, which is worse from scratching and is relieved from warm bath or applying heat. The eyes may become inflamed and sticky. There is severe body pain and muscles feel very stiff, which is relieved by gentle movement or from warmth.The patient is restless both mentally and physically.

SULPHUR 200-Sulphur is prescribed when severe itching and burning occurs which is worse from scratching and washing. The symptoms worse from warmth.Both heat and chills are felt during fever. The child may feel drowsy in the afternoon and restless and hot at night.