Is pediatric herpangina the same as hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Disease description:
My daughter is three years old. She has been experiencing oral pain, and a friend suggested it might be herpangina in children. However, I suspect it might be hand, foot, and mouth disease. Are herpangina in children and hand, foot, and mouth disease the same condition?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Herpangina and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) share certain similarities in terms of pathogens, symptoms, and routes of transmission, but the two conditions are not entirely identical.
1. Pathogens: Both diseases are primarily caused by enteroviruses. Herpangina is mainly caused by Coxsackievirus A group, while HFMD is more commonly associated with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71.
2. Symptoms: Herpangina typically presents with acute fever, sore throat, pharyngeal vesicles, and ulcers. In addition to fever, the typical features of HFMD include rashes or vesicles on the hands, feet, mouth, and other areas.
3. Transmission: Both diseases are mainly transmitted via the fecal-oral or respiratory routes, and both are highly contagious.
If related symptoms occur, timely medical attention is recommended.
