How do chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease differ in their causes. What are the main symptoms of each condition. How are these viral infections diagnosed and treated. What are the potential complications of chickenpox versus hand, foot and mouth disease.

Understanding Chickenpox: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which belongs to the herpes virus family. This DNA virus has the ability to cause latent infections and is transmitted through respiratory droplets or direct contact with lesions.

Key Facts About Chickenpox:

• Incubation period: 14-21 days
• Highly infectious, especially severe in adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals
• Provides lifelong immunity after infection

The characteristic chickenpox rash typically begins on mucosal surfaces before rapidly spreading in a centripetal distribution, primarily affecting the trunk. The progression of the rash is swift, with lesions evolving from small pink macules to vesicles and pustules within 24 hours before eventually crusting over.

Distinctive Features of Chickenpox Lesions:

1. Appear in different stages of development
2. Superficial and collapse upon puncture
3. Intensely itchy, increasing the risk of secondary bacterial infections

How is chickenpox diagnosed? Physicians typically make a clinical diagnosis based on the classic appearance of the rash. For confirmation, aspiration of vesicular fluid followed by PCR or tissue culture may be performed.

What is the recommended treatment for chickenpox? Acyclovir is the primary antiviral medication used, particularly effective when administered within 48 hours of rash onset. For high-risk contacts, a live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine is available.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: An Overview of the Viral Infection

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a systemic infection caused by coxsackievirus A16, a member of the picornaviridae family. This moderately infectious disease primarily affects children and is less common in adults.

Transmission and Incubation of HFMD:

• Spread through direct contact with mucus, saliva, or feces of an infected person
• Incubation period of approximately 10 days

What are the initial symptoms of HFMD? The disease typically begins with mild fever and lymphadenopathy. After 2-3 days, the characteristic rash appears.

Distinctive Features of HFMD Rash:

1. Vesicular rash on palmoplantar surfaces of hands and feet
2. Associated mouth lesions that rapidly ulcerate
3. Possible papular erythematous rash on buttocks and thighs

How is HFMD diagnosed? Diagnosis is typically made through virus isolation or by observing a rise in the titer of neutralizing antibodies.

What is the typical course and treatment of HFMD? The disease is generally self-limiting and resolves within two weeks of onset. Treatment is primarily supportive, with analgesics prescribed for painful lesions. Passive immunization is not recommended for HFMD.

Comparing Chickenpox and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Key Differences

While both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease are viral infections that can cause confusion due to some shared characteristics, they have several distinct features that set them apart.

Viral Causes and Transmission:

• Chickenpox: Caused by varicella-zoster virus (herpes virus family)
• HFMD: Caused by coxsackievirus A16 (picornaviridae family)
• Chickenpox is highly infectious, while HFMD is moderately infectious

How do the incubation periods differ? Chickenpox has a longer incubation period of 14-21 days, compared to HFMD’s 10-day incubation period.

Rash Characteristics and Distribution:

1. Chickenpox: Lesions primarily appear on the trunk
2. HFMD: Rash concentrates on palmoplantar surfaces of hands and feet, with mouth involvement
3. Chickenpox lesions progress through various stages, while HFMD lesions are more consistent

What are the differences in treatment approaches? Chickenpox often requires antiviral treatment with acyclovir, especially in high-risk individuals. In contrast, HFMD is typically self-limiting and managed with supportive care.

Complications and Long-term Effects: Chickenpox vs HFMD

Understanding the potential complications of both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease is crucial for proper management and patient care.

Chickenpox Complications:

• Secondary bacterial infections (most common)
• Self-limiting cerebellar ataxia
• Varicella pneumonia
• Encephalitis
• Reye’s syndrome (particularly in children taking aspirin)

Are there any long-term effects of chickenpox? The varicella-zoster virus can remain dormant in nerve tissues and reactivate later in life, causing shingles.

HFMD Complications:

1. Mild viral meningitis
2. Encephalitis
3. Paralysis

How common are complications in HFMD? Complications are generally rare in hand, foot, and mouth disease, with most cases resolving without significant issues.

Diagnostic Approaches: Identifying Chickenpox and HFMD

Accurate diagnosis is essential for proper management and prevention of spread for both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Chickenpox Diagnosis:

• Clinical diagnosis based on characteristic rash appearance
• Confirmation through vesicular fluid aspiration and PCR or tissue culture

When is laboratory confirmation necessary for chickenpox? While most cases are diagnosed clinically, laboratory tests may be required in atypical presentations or for epidemiological purposes.

HFMD Diagnosis:

1. Clinical assessment of symptoms and rash distribution
2. Virus isolation from throat swabs or stool samples
3. Serological testing to detect a rise in neutralizing antibodies

How reliable is clinical diagnosis for HFMD? In most cases, the distinctive rash pattern and distribution allow for accurate clinical diagnosis, but laboratory confirmation may be sought in unclear cases or during outbreaks.

Prevention Strategies: Vaccines and Hygiene Measures

Preventing the spread of viral infections like chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease involves a combination of vaccination (where available) and proper hygiene practices.

Chickenpox Prevention:

• Highly effective vaccine available (live attenuated varicella-zoster virus)
• Recommended as part of routine childhood immunizations in many countries
• Post-exposure prophylaxis with vaccine or immunoglobulin for high-risk individuals

How effective is the chickenpox vaccine? The vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe cases of chickenpox and has significantly reduced the incidence of the disease in countries with widespread vaccination programs.

HFMD Prevention:

1. No specific vaccine available
2. Focus on hygiene measures:
   • Regular handwashing
   • Proper disinfection of surfaces and toys
   • Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
3. Isolation of infected individuals, especially in childcare settings

Why is there no vaccine for HFMD? The multiple viral strains that can cause HFMD make vaccine development challenging, though research is ongoing.

Treatment Approaches: Managing Symptoms and Complications

While both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease are viral infections, their treatment approaches differ based on severity and potential complications.

Chickenpox Treatment:

• Antiviral therapy (acyclovir) for severe cases or high-risk individuals
• Symptomatic relief:
  • Calamine lotion for itching
  • Acetaminophen for fever (avoid aspirin due to Reye’s syndrome risk)
• Monitoring for secondary bacterial infections

When should antiviral treatment be started for chickenpox? Antiviral therapy is most effective when initiated within 48 hours of rash onset, particularly in adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.

HFMD Treatment:

1. Primarily supportive care
2. Pain relief with over-the-counter analgesics
3. Adequate hydration, especially if mouth sores interfere with eating and drinking
4. Topical oral anesthetics for mouth pain

Are antibiotics necessary for HFMD? Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections like HFMD and are only prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection develops.

Long-term Immunity and Recurrence: Chickenpox vs HFMD

Understanding the likelihood of recurrence and long-term immunity is crucial for patient education and public health strategies.

Chickenpox Immunity:

• Generally provides lifelong immunity after infection
• Possibility of shingles later in life due to virus reactivation
• Vaccine-induced immunity may wane over time, but typically prevents severe disease

Can you get chickenpox more than once? While rare, it is possible to contract chickenpox multiple times, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those with waning vaccine-induced immunity.

HFMD Immunity:

1. Immunity to specific strain after infection
2. Possible recurrence due to different viral strains
3. No long-term immunity against all HFMD-causing viruses

How common is HFMD recurrence? While individuals develop immunity to the specific strain that caused their infection, they can still contract HFMD from other enterovirus strains, making recurrence possible, especially in children.

In conclusion, while chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease share some superficial similarities as viral infections causing rashes, they differ significantly in their causative agents, transmission patterns, clinical presentations, and management approaches. Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is highly infectious and can lead to more severe complications, particularly in adults and immunocompromised individuals. It benefits from antiviral treatment and has an effective vaccine available. On the other hand, hand, foot, and mouth disease, primarily caused by coxsackievirus A16, is generally milder and self-limiting, affecting mainly children. It lacks a specific antiviral treatment or vaccine, focusing instead on supportive care and hygiene measures for prevention. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and effective public health strategies to control the spread of these viral infections.

Difference Between Chickenpox and Hand Foot and Mouth

Chickenpox vs Hand Foot and Mouth | Causes, Clinical Features, Complications, Diagnosis, Management
 

The key difference between chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease is that chickenpox is caused by a herpes virus while hand foot mouth disease is caused by a picorna virus.

Chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease, both of which are caused by viral infections, share some common characteristics and causes diagnostic confusion. But several features of the two diseases are significantly different. This article points out the differences between chickenpox and hand foot mouth disease with regard to the organism responsible, clinical picture, complications, diagnosis, and management.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Chickenpox 
3. What is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
4. Side by Side Comparison – Chickenpox and Hand Foot vs Mouth Disease in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Chickenpox?

Varicella zoster, which belongs to the herpes virus family, is responsible for this disease. It is a DNA virus and has the ability to cause latent infections. The disease transmission is by respiratory droplets and direct contact with the lesions. It is highly infectious and more severe in adults, pregnant women, and immune-compromised people. Immunity following the disease is lifelong.

Vesicular eruption begins following an incubation period of 14-21 days, often on the mucosal surfaces first and then rapid dissemination in a centripetal distribution mostly involving the trunk. The rash progresses from small pink macules to vesicles and pustules within 24 hours and then crust. Moreover, the lesions appear to be in different stages of development. The pocks are more superficial, and the vesicles collapse on puncture.

Figure 1: Varicella-zoster Virus

Furthermore, the lesions are itchy, and scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infection, which is the most common complication. Rare complications involve self-limiting cerebella ataxia, varicella pneumonia, encephalitis, and Reye’s syndrome, especially in children who are on aspirin.

Physicians make the clinical diagnosis by the classic appearance of the rash. In addition, aspiration of the vesicular fluid and PCR or tissue culture confirms the diagnosis.

Acyclovir is effective in the management of the disease, especially, if commenced within 48 hours of the rash. Moreover, live attenuated VZV is given for highly susceptible contacts.

What is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?

Hand foot and mouth disease is a systemic infection caused by coxsackievirus A16, which belongs to the picornaviridae family. The disease is moderately infectious. Transmission of the disease is by direct contact with mucus, saliva or feces of an infected person. It mostly affects children and rarely adults.

Following an incubation period of 10 days, mild illness of fever and lymphadenopathy occur. After 2-3 days, a vesicular rash appears on palmoplantar surfaces of the hands and feet with associated mouth lesions that ulcerate rapidly. A papular erythematous rash may appear on buttocks and thigh, as well.

Figure 2: Coxsackievirus

Isolating the virus or observing a rise in titer of neutralizing antibodies help in making the diagnosis.

The disease is self-limiting and usually resolves within 2 weeks after the onset. In case if the lesions are painful, analgesics can be given. However, passive immunization is not recommended.

The complications of the disease are very rare and include mild viral meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis.

What is the Difference Between Chickenpox and Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?

Herpes virus causes chickenpox while a picorna virus causes hand foot and mouth disease. This is the key difference between chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease. Moreover, the incubation period of chickenpox is 14-21 days, while the incubation period of hand foot and mouth disease is 10 days. In chickenpox, lesions appear mostly in the trunk, but in hand foot mouth disease, they appear on palmoplantar surfaces of the hands and feet, with associated mouth lesions that ulcerate rapidly. This is another important difference between chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease.

Although chickenpox needs to be treated with acyclovir, hand foot mouth disease is self-limiting. Moreover, an effective vaccine is available against chickenpox, but there is no need for vaccines in hand foot mouth disease.  Finally, chickenpox is highly infectious, but hand foot mouth disease is moderately infectious. This is another major difference between chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease.

Summary – Chickenpox vs Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

The key difference between chickenpox and hand foot and mouth disease is their viral origin;  herpes virus causes chickenpox while a picorna virus causes hand foot and mouth disease. There are other differences between the two diseases based on the clinical picture, complications, diagnosis, and management.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Varicella-zoster Virus” By NIAID (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Coxsackie B4 virus” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Distinguish hand, foot and mouth disease from chickenpox, shingles (shingles) and Herpes simplex

This is an automatically translated article.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a disease that often occurs in summer and autumn, at the same time as other skin diseases and skin lesions are blisters, so it should be distinguished from diseases caused by herpes simplex virus infection or chickenpox, shingles.

1.Distinguish hand, foot and mouth disease from chickenpox, shingles (shingles) and Herpes simplex 1.1. Hand, foot and mouth disease Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by viruses belonging to the group of enteric viruses (poliovirus, coxsackievirus, echovirus…) The outbreak time is usually March-May and September-November. The disease usually occurs in children under 10 years of age.
When hand, foot and mouth disease, children will have oval blisters and grow in typical locations such as palms, soles, elbows, knees, buttocks. Blisters can grow in the mouth and throat, causing ulcers in the mouth and throat. However, these blisters are neither itchy nor painful.
1.2. Chickenpox Chickenpox is caused by a virus called the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) and is contagious. The disease occurs all year round, but the peak is from February to June. The disease occurs mostly in children aged 5-11, but also many adults suffer from this disease.
When you have chickenpox, the rash will grow in many stages, starting on the trunk and then spreading to the whole body, head, face, hands and feet; old vesicles mixed with new, concave in the middle when new, clear and opaque (pus) due to bacterial superinfection; The rash develops blisters that cause itching, pain, and discomfort.

Besides blisters, young children often have a mild fever, anorexia, but in adults or older children often have high fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting. After the disease is in remission, the rash will dry, scab, darken the skin where the blisters appear, leaving no scars if not infected.
1.3. Shingles (shingles) Shingles, also known as shingles, is caused by a virus and only occurs in people who have had chickenpox before. Shingles usually does not break out into a pandemic like chickenpox or hand, foot and mouth disease, but is common in all ages if the resistance is poor.
When infected with shingles, the patient feels a burning pain in an area of ​​​​the skin and then appears many large and small blisters in a cluster. These blisters appear only on one side of the body, rarely spreading to other skin areas. Blisters can be mild or intense, depending on the case. If there are blisters in the armpits, groin and neck, swollen lymph nodes will appear, accompanied by low-grade fever and fatigue.
1.4. Herpes simplex Herpes Simplex Virus has 2 types: HSV – 1 and HSV – 2 and recurs in episodes.
Herpes type 1: Causes sores around the mouth, lips, eyes, in some cases can lead to genital herpes. Feel a burning sensation around the mouth before the sores appear. When the blisters burst, they leave behind a slide, or a deep ulcer, scabbing or exuding, causing unsightly, in some cases, crusting or oozing. Herpes type 2: Causes sores around the genitals or rectum, mainly transmitted sexually. The common symptom in Herpes type 2 is the appearance of sores on the genitals and anus. Besides the sores can include fever, body aches and swollen lymph nodes.

Bệnh Herpes simplex gây lở loét xung quanh miệng, môi

2. Hand, foot and mouth treatment for chickenpox, shingles (shingles) and Herpes simplex

2.1. Treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease Currently, there is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. The main treatment is to reduce fever, reduce pain and increase resistance.
Reduce pain and fever with Paracetamol or Acetaminophen, do not use Aspirin or drugs containing Aspirin. Body hygiene: Reduce the risk of skin infections by cleaning the body, rinsing the mouth every day, taking a warm bath, washing gently, avoiding breaking water bubbles or scratching the skin, changing clean clothes daily . Keep fingernails short and wear baby gloves to reduce skin damage. Nutrition: Children should eat nutritious food, eat thin, cool foods; keep warm and give plenty of water. Take your child to a medical facility immediately when there are signs of a more serious illness such as high fever, confusion, convulsions, pus-filled blisters, blood. 2.2. Treatment of Chickenpox Chickenpox is a mild disease. However, without proper care, the disease can cause dangerous complications and another complication of chickenpox is shingles, also known as shingles. To support the treatment of symptoms and prevent dangerous complications, the treatment of chickenpox requires:
Use of drugs: Antipyretic drugs, vitamins, topical drugs to reduce itching but need to be prescribed by a doctor. Cleanliness: Wash and clean regularly to avoid bacteria accumulating on the skin causing infection, do not rub and break the blisters. Nutrition: When you have chickenpox, you should avoid fatty foods, butter, milk, cheese, etc., limit your intake of hot spicy foods, acidic foods such as oranges and lemons. Limit going to windy places, keep the body warm to avoid other opportunistic diseases, but the patient needs to be in a cool, not secretive place, when it is hot, the fan must be turned on to avoid sweating a lot.

2.3. Treatment of shingles (shingles) There is currently no cure for shingles, but your doctor can prescribe medication to control the infection, shorten the healing time, fight inflammation, and relieve pain. Regularly wash your hands with soap, both before and after using the toilet, to avoid scratching and scratching the skin. Apply antiseptic and prevent superinfection with methylene blue. Wash the body with warm water, gently wipe to avoid breaking the bubbles.

Sử dụng thuốc sát khuẩn bôi ngoài da ngừa bội nhiễm bằng Methylen

2.4. Herpes simplex treatment The treatment of Herpes simplex is mainly against superinfection, anti-viral and counseling the possibility of disease recurrence, complications and avoiding infecting others. Specifically:
Medication: Antiviral drugs to relieve systemic symptoms. If there is superinfection, use broad-spectrum antibiotics. Nutrition: Enhance health with a diet rich in protein, vitamins and proper rest. Body hygiene: Clean the body, do not share personal items with others.

3. Prevention of hand, foot and mouth disease with chickenpox, shingles (shingles) and Herpes simplex

3.1. Prevention of hand , foot and mouth disease Currently there is no vaccine or specific method to prevent hand , foot and mouth disease . The main methods of disease prevention include:
Regularly washing hands with soap under strong running water Ensure cooked food and drink; Use clean water to ensure hygiene. Do not give food to children and especially do not let children eat, suck, suck on toys; Let children use their own personal items. Keep the house clean and well ventilated. Using hygienic latrines When a child shows signs of illness, parents need to take the child to a doctor or notify the nearest medical facility. 3.2. Chickenpox Prevention The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine, which helps the body make antibodies against the chickenpox virus. The protective effects of the chickenpox vaccine can be long-lasting. At the same time, wash and change often, clean the body, house, and personal items every day. Do not go to places where there is an outbreak of disease. 3.3. Shingles prevention Regularly wash hands, clean the house, personal items daily. Eat, rest, live in moderation, avoid body fatigue and stress.

Tiêm chủng đầy đủ theo lịch có thể giúp phòng một số bệnh truyền nhiễm

3.4. Herpes simplex room Do not share personal items with others. Practice safe, healthy sex and use vaccines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Limit some intimate actions such as hugging, kissing, holding hands, contact with open wounds. Clean and properly clean the genitals. Vinmec International General Hospital is a high-quality medical facility in Vietnam with a team of highly qualified medical professionals, well-trained, domestic and foreign, and experienced.
A system of modern and advanced medical equipment, possessing many of the best machines in the world, helping to detect many difficult and dangerous diseases in a short time, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of doctors the most effective. The hospital space is designed according to 5-star hotel standards, giving patients comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.

Please dial
HOTLINE
for more information or register for an appointment HERE.
Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

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Coxsackie virus.

Memo to the tourist | Association of Tour Operators

ATOR Bulletin has collected the main questions that concern tourists in connection with the spread of information about the Coxsackie virus in Turkey, and answers to them from specialists – doctors, lawyers and tourism industry professionals.

IS TURKEY REALLY A COXACHI EPIDEMIC?

No. Not a single federal authority in Russia or Turkey confirms the existence of an epidemic. About the current situation cannot be characterized as an epidemic , not only the Turkish Ministry of Health, but also the Russian Rospotrebnadzor say. The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Antalya also does not see mass appeals of Russians on this issue.

This type of virus is characteristic of the southern coastal countries and its manifestations were observed both in Turkey and in other countries before – on hotel forums you can find panic questions from tourists regarding the Coxsackie virus and the “epidemic”, dating back to 2014 and 2015.

Finally, insurance companies, which have a real opportunity to quickly count those who fall ill, unanimously say that the number of requests for medical assistance due to enterovirus diseases in Turkey this year is within the statistical norm for the summer season – in other words, “it was before, it’s not an epidemic.”

WHAT IS AN EPIDEMIC AND WHO Announces It?

An epidemic is the rapid and continuous spread of an infectious disease within a defined population or region. At the same time, the spread of the disease should0003 is significantly higher than the incidence rate normally recorded in the area and thus be a possible source of emergency.

Usually, the official announcement of an epidemic in a country is given by its Ministry of Health. In Russia, informs citizens about the epidemiological situation Rospotrebnadzor . In the future, information about the unsafe situation in a particular country appears on the website of Rostourism . Specifically for this information should be guided by tourists and travel agencies. We note, for our part, that even there are no warnings about the “need to be careful” on vacation in Turkey from government agencies at the moment .

HOW DOES THE COXSACKIE VIRUS MANIFEST, WHAT IS IT?

The virus called Coxsackie belongs to the group of enteroviruses . The disease is manifested by fever (high temperature) and rash (red or brownish spots on the body with blisters in the center). The rash is usually located on arms, legs and mouth . Therefore, the Coxsackie virus is called hand-foot-mouth virus .

A rash on the skin may resemble chickenpox (red spots / papules, and / or full-fledged watery vesicles) – but the Coxsackie virus has nothing to do with chickenpox (chickenpox) – therefore, it is not necessary to vaccinate against it in the hope of avoiding Coxsackie enterovirus. A rash in the mouth may resemble herpetic stomatitis – however, if it is Coxsackie, then drugs like Zyrtec will not help.

WHO CAN GET COXACKIE ILL?

Most often, children under 5-6 years old get sick – as a rule, on a beach holiday. Quite often, children, however, “bring” the virus from a regular kindergarten (perhaps other children who returned from vacation bring it).

Adults can also get Coxsackie virus. It is believed that the risk of recurrence is extremely unlikely – Coxsackie gives lifelong immunity.

IN WHICH COUNTRIES CAN COXACKIE BE POSSIBLE? IS IT ONLY Türkiye?

No, the hand-foot-mouth virus is also found and spreading in other countries of the world (above we indicated the countries in which the virus has been noted in the past few years). The most favorable conditions for the spread of the virus are hot weather and a humid climate.

Rosgosstrakh notes that most of the calls for enterovirus infection this year are about the illness of children under 7 years old on a beach holiday – not only in Turkey, but also, for example, in Thailand, Bulgaria, Spain, etc. .

Finally, outbreaks of virus infection in different years were repeatedly recorded and in various regions of Russia – especially during those periods when hot weather was established in a particular region.

HOW IS COXACKIE TRANSMITTED? IS THERE A COXACKIE VIRUS VACCINATION?

If one child falls ill in a family, then all other family members are at risk, especially children under 10 years old, says pediatrician Sergei Butriy. The virus does not “fly through the air”, but is transmitted only by contact . Therefore, a sick child should have their own separate dishes and toys, and it is recommended that all family members often treat their hands with alcohol-containing antiseptics.

Vaccinations against Coxsackie enterovirus do not exist – neither in our country nor abroad.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT A CHILD TO COXSACKIE VIRUS ON HOLIDAYS?

Travel agent and doctor Svetlana Oboyanskaya gives the following recommendations for parents who want to minimize the risks of a child getting the Coxsackie virus on vacation:

• Be sure to observe personal hygiene – wash your hands, vegetables and fruits, children’s plastic dishes.
• If possible, avoid visiting the children’s pool, try to swim only in the sea.
• In the kids club, children should wear only socks; during peak seasons with a large number of children, it is better to exclude visiting it altogether.
• Raise the child’s immunity even before rest: fresh vegetables, fruits, physical exercises, a lot of fresh air in the child’s everyday “pre-holiday” life reduce the risk of getting sick on vacation, because. First of all, children with weak immunity become victims of any viruses.

HOW LONG DOES COXACKIE TAKE?

As a rule, the period of infection with the virus lasts about 10 days. The temperature can last for 1-4 days, then it usually returns to normal on its own. Pain when swallowing persists for 1-6 days.

A person who has been ill with Coxsackie can return to the team after normalization of body temperature and general condition, but the main indicator will be the disappearance of the elements of the rash. Up to this point, the sick person may be contagious.

HOW TO TREAT A CHILD WITH COXSACKIE? SHOULD I TAKE ANTIBIOTICS?

No, you don’t need to take antibiotics – doctors say so. Coxsackie is a virus, and antibiotics only kill bacteria. The disease belongs to the category passing independently . The patient only needs relief. Parents and physicians need only to avoid dehydration and watch for complications (only then antibiotics may be needed, but they must be prescribed by a doctor).

Antipyretics such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken to reduce body temperature . In order to avoid dehydration, especially in children, it is recommended to frequently give the patient cool water to drink – cold can serve as an anesthetic, because ulcers make swallowing difficult. Pediatrician Sergey Butriy also recommends to give the patient ice cream – this is additional calories, and light anesthesia in the throat .

HOW TO DO NOT MISS COXSACKIE COMPLICATIONS AND CALL THE DOCTOR IN TIME

The most common complications of these diseases are dehydration and secondary bacterial infection .

Dr. Evgeny Komarovsky recommends URGENTLY see a doctor or call an ambulance in two cases:

If the child is dehydrated due to complete refusal to eat and drink . Signs of this condition:

child has not urinated for more than 8 hours

A sharply sunken fontanel on the head is palpable in an infant

child cries without tears

His lips are chapped and dry.

If there are signs of a secondary bacterial infection . They can be:

Blisters on the body filled with pus or became sharply painful.

The aphthae in your child’s mouth are so painful that he does not open his mouth, completely refusing to eat and drink.

CANCELLED TOUR TO TURKEY. WHAT COMPENSATION CAN YOU COUNT?

Officials of did not impose any restrictions on the sale and formation of tours to Turkey . Thus, if a tour is canceled before its start date, the tour operator has the legal right to withhold the costs incurred for organizing this tour.

The final amount of expenses actually incurred by him depends on the date of termination of the contract and many other factors. The exact figure is not indicated in the law and depends only on the terms of the contract for the sale of the tourist product, but the closer to the date of the trip, the greater the fine will be .

IF THE SITUATION IS SUDDENLY RECOGNIZED AS UNSAFE, THEN IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO REFUND THE WHOLE AMOUNT OF THE TOUR?

Nadezhda Efremova, head of the ATOR legal service, explains that the statements of the Federal Tourism Agency in case of danger to tourists in a particular country can be divided into two types.

The first is a recommendation to be careful on vacation. This wording of does not introduce any prohibitions or restrictions on travel to country . In this case, if the tourist wishes to abandon the tour “because he is afraid”, the refund is made in accordance with the terms of the contract for the sale of the tourist product – on the terms signed by the parties.

The second option may include restrictions on the formation and implementation of tours to a particular country. In this regard, changes in flight programs may also be made. In this case, the return of funds for unfulfilled obligations to the tourist is made in full – but there are currently no such notifications for Turkey .

HOW TO REFUND MONEY FOR EARLY RETURN HOME.

Such a question can be asked by tourists who are afraid that upon arrival at the hotel they will find vacationers with suspicious rashes. If situation is not recognized as epidemic , the tourist can apply to the operator with a request for compensation for lost services.

However, since the refusal of services occurred at the time of their provision, then the partners of the tour operator will not be able to sell them to other tourists. The same applies to the return flight. Thus, a refund for unused services unlikely .

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A TOURIST OR HIS CHILD IS ILL ON HOLIDAY ON THE EVE OF THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE HOMELAND AND THE DOCTOR DOES NOT RECOMMEND FLIGHT BECAUSE OF THE RISKS TO YOUR OWN HEALTH OR THE RISK OF INFECTION TO OTHERS?

On this issue, it makes sense to contact your insurance company . The answer to the question will depend on the conditions of the insurance company in which the policy was purchased. Sometimes such risks are included in the standard package, but it happens that the contract does not provide for this.

Yulia Alcheeva, Executive Director of ERV, recommends that tourists contact their insurer on the eve of the trip and clarify whether such quarantine risks are covered by the insurance policy . If the standard policy does not include such risks, it makes sense to purchase extended insurance .

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN ISSUING INSURANCE FOR GOING ABROAD?

An insurance policy is cheaper if it provides for the so-called franchise . Usually this is an amount of about 50-100 euros, which the tourist will have to pay for treatment from his own pocket. The insurance company compensates for expenses only in excess of the specified amount.

Rosgosstrakh calculated that the average cost of medical care provided in connection with the virus depends on the country of treatment and the severity of the disease and can vary from 60 euros in Bulgaria, 80 euros in Turkey and up to 1500 USD in the United States.

If the policy is included in the tour package, you should check in advance whether it provides for a deductible. If it provides for, and there are concerns about a possible Coxsackie disease on vacation, then it makes sense for a tourist (especially with children) consider buying an additional insurance policy – no deductible .

“Hands-legs-mouth”. What kind of disease is this?

Your baby is sick. The third day is feverish, naughty, but you are not in a hurry to see a doctor. Banal SARS – you think, give your child antipyretic or, worse, antibiotics. But on the third or fourth day, you notice that in his throat, on his arms and legs, reddish bubbles appeared, similar to pustules, only with liquid. The bubbles burst, and sores remain in their place. And then, having scrolled through a dozen options in your head – from chickenpox to allergic dermatitis, you finally decide to visit a pediatrician.

– Coxsackie virus, – the doctor categorically concludes after examining your child.

– What is it? Where did he come from? This is the first time we’ve heard of this! – you exclaim in a panic and demand complete information from the doctor.

Let us tell you in advance. After all, forewarned is forearmed. We will try to arm you with knowledge about this mysterious virus. Perhaps it is your child who will pass it without dangerous complications.

This is what the pediatrician of the children’s polyclinic “Healer”, candidate of medical sciences, associate professor, honored doctor of the Republic of Dagestan, doctor of the highest category 9 told us0003 Khadizhat Magomedovna Ramazanova :

– Three years ago, a child was brought to my appointment with strange symptoms, which I saw for the first time in my many years of practice. It was a picture of the Coxsackie syndrome, or, as it is also called, the hand-foot-mouth syndrome, a new strain of enterovirus for Dagestan.

Enterovirus is an infection that is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person and spreads first in the upper respiratory tract, and then in the intestines. The virus enters the human body in various ways: when coughing and sneezing, while drinking, bathing and eating food washed or poured with contaminated water, if personal hygiene rules are not followed, through dirty toys.

Today, I am very concerned about the increasing number of patients presenting with symptoms of this disease. Two weeks ago, in just one day, four children were brought to me.

The infection, according to the doctor, is brought by tourists who have been on vacation in Turkey, Cyprus, Sochi, Thailand. The source of infection most often hides in dishonestly cleaned hotels and contaminated pools. True, all tour operators unanimously assure that pools and hotels are systematically disinfected and sanitized, but the fact remains: more than 500 Russian tourists who visited Turkey this summer sought medical help with symptoms of the Coxsackie virus. Take note: the virus spreads in a humid, warm climate and is completely independent of the level of economic development of the country to which tourists travel – this type of enterovirus is also affected in the most highly developed regions. The peak of the prevalence of the disease is from July to October, but there are outbreaks in the winter . One more note: the disease is mainly characteristic of children under 14 years old, but immunity lasts for several years. During this time, a modified strain may appear, and the body will again be defenseless against it – the child will fall ill again.

Once again, let us remind you how this insidious virus manifests itself and why it is necessary to run to the doctor as soon as possible at the first suspicion.

– The incubation period of the disease lasts up to 2 weeks. After that, the temperature rises (rather high and does not go astray up to 7–8 days in a row), sore throats, symptoms of poisoning appear. On the third day, bubbles with a clear liquid appear in the oral cavity, on the arms and legs of the child. Ulcers at the site of burst bubbles increase in size. Sometimes bubbles appear around the mouth.

Parents often confuse Coxsackievirus with allergies or the common cold and try to treat their children on their own.