Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild but highly contagious viral infection common in young children that spreads from person to person from dirty hands or contaminated surfaces. Common symptoms include fever; sore throat; rashes and blisters on the tongue, mouth, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet; headache; tired; irritability; and loss of appetite. The infection most often occurs due to the coxsackie virus and is commonly seen in child care settings. Infected adults may not show signs or symptoms of the disease.
Ayurvedic treatment of hand-foot-and-mouth disease aims to treat the symptoms and prevent complications such as viral meningitis and encephalitis. Medicines like Tribhuvan-Kirti, Laxmi-Narayan-Ras and Maha-Sudarshan-Churna are used to treat fever. Headache and sore throat can be treated with medicines like Sitopaladi-Churna, Talisadi-Churna, Triphala-Guggulu and Sukshma-Triphala. Fatigue can be treated with medicines like Arjunarishta, Dashmoolarishta, Shrung-Bhasma and Laxmi-Vilas-Ras. Irritability can be treated with Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Khurasani ova (Hyoscyamus niger) and Jayphal (Myristica fragrans). Loss of appetite can be treated with medications such as Shankh-Vati, Laghu-Sutshekhar, Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Pippali (Piper longum) and Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica).
Rash and blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet can be treated with medicines like Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Saarivadi-Churna, Gandhak-Rasayan, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Rakta-Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Patha (Cissampelos pareira) and Nimba (Azadirachta indica). These are most effective when combined with a local application containing Manjishtha, Saariva, Haridra, Chandan (Santalum album) and Mandukparni (Centella asiatica). Other medicines like Panch-Tikta-Ghrut, Yashtimadhuk-Ghrut and Shatadhout-Ghrut can also be used for local application. Medicines like Tapyadi-Loh, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Maha-Vat-Vidhwans-Ras, and Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani can be used to prevent and treat meningitis and encephalitis.
Most patients with this condition usually recover in 7 to 10 days. It is important to maintain adequate oral rehydration in affected children. Equally important is the prevention of this disease, with the adoption of good hygienic measures and the temporary isolation of infected and contagious people.