Girly asked
I have hand foot and mouth from my 2 year old. And my soles of feet and palms of hands are really itchy and sore what will help this?
Answer
Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is a fairly common disease in children under 10 years old that is caused by several viruses. Although most common in children, it is highly contagious and can be transmitted to adults, although not as commonly as transmission to other children.
As mentioned above, the disease is caused by a virus and tend to subside on its own in 7-10 days. Although your body will rid itself of the infection, the symptoms caused can be annoying and irritating, to the point of being debilitating. The most common symptom that is complained about is the itching and pain caused by blisters.
The most commonly recommended medications for symptom relief of hand, foot and mouth disease are simple analgesics, Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen). If itching is an issue, as in your question, you can use a topical calamine lotion or a topical Benadryl. You could also take oral Benadryl, but it may make your tired or drowsy. Soaking the affected areas in a warm bath can also be beneficial. In general, it is not recommended to use a topical steroid such as hydrocortisone cream since the blisters can open, creating open wounds. If you have broken skin, you do not want to use a steroid.
If you have mouth sores, which is common, you can use an anesthetic mouth wash.
If your symptoms are lasting longer than 7-10 days, or they are particularly severe, please talk to your doctor about other options about treating your symptoms.
