Question

A 8-year-old child is seen as a walk-in appointment by nurse practitioner. The mother reports that the child is febrile for 2 days and is not eating well due to painful sores inside the mouth. During the physical exam, the nurse practitioner notices several small blisters and shallow ulcers on the child's pharynx and oral mucosa. The child has small round red rashes on both palms and soles. Which are the following conditions is most likely?

A) Herpes simplex infection
B) Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)
C) Varicella infection
D) Secondary syphilis infection

Answer 1

B) hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)

Step-by-step explanation:

Its a viral disease that is caused by coxsackievirus A16. It is more common in children and spreads through saliva, fluid of the blisters, nasal or stools or through the tiny droplets released in the air while coughing and sneezing. First sign during the infection is fever which is followed by sore throat and later by poor appetite. After that rashes occur on hands and feet and sometimes on buttocks too.

The sores and shallow ulcers caused in mouth and throat do not let the child to swallow food and is quiet painful to eat. It could be from mild to very complicated if brain is involved which is very rare case.