Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease: An Epidemiological and Clinical Study About 60 Cases

Abstract

Yousra Habibi, Fatima-Zahra El Fatoiki, Fouzia Hali and Soumia Chiheb

Introduction: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral disease generally affecting children under the age of 7. It is mainly caused by Enterovirus A or Coxsackie virus. Diagnosis is clinical, based on the occurrence of low-grade fever with a maculopapular or papulovesicular rash on the hands and soles, and painful oral ulcerations. We report a case series of 60 patients with HFMD.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series, spanning a period of 6 years, from the year 2018 to March 2023, of foot-hand-mouth syndrome in children, identified during the pediatric dermatology consultation.

Results: A total of 60 children with HFMD were identified. The mean age was 21.7 months. Male predominance was noted, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.75. Four patients had atopic dermatitis, sixteen patients had a precessive infectious episode of the upper respiratory tract. Twenty-seven patients had fever. Clinical examination revealed a localized papulovesicular rash on the hands, feet and buttocks, as well as localized erosive and scabby lesions in the perioral region in 34 patients. Lesions were generalized in 26 patients. One patient had purpuric lesions and another had recurrent PMBS. Nail involvement such as onychomadesis and Beau's line was found in 11 patients. Treatment was symptomatic, with antipyretics and emollient creams.

Discussion: Hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome is a widespread infection in children, although some cases have been described in adults. Transmission is via the feco-oral route and respiratory secretions. Hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome is a clinical diagnosis. Treatment is symptomatic. The course is generally favorable, and complete resolution usually occurs within 10 days.

Conclusion: Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually involves the hands, feet, mouth, and sometimes the genitals and buttocks. In rare cases, patients may have neurologic or cardiopulmonary complications. The best methods to prevent the spread of hand-foot-and- mouth disease are handwashing and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces and fomites.

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