HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Course overview

HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE (HFMD) IS A COMMON VIRAL ILLNESS USUALLY AFFECTING INFANTS AND CHILDREN BUT CAN AFFECT ADULTS. THE INFECTION USUALLY INVOLVES THE HANDS, FEET, MOUTH, AND SOMETIMES, EVEN THE GENITALS AND BUTTOCKS. THE CAUSE OF HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IS COXSACKIEVIRUS A TYPE 16 IN MOST CASES, BUT THE INFECTION CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY MANY OTHER STRAINS OF COXSACKIEVIRUS. IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE HAVE BEEN LINKED TO ENTEROVIRUS. THE COXSACKIEVIRUS IS A MEMBER OF THE PICORNAVIRIDAE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES NON-ENVELOPED SINGLE-STRANDED RNA VIRUSES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF HFMD AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS DISEASE.