A Prospective Observational Study on Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Incidence of Secondary Bacterial Skin Infections

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness affecting children, often self - limiting with minimal complications. This prospective observational study aims to determine the incidence of secondary bacterial skin infections in children with HFMD and the clinical outcomes associated with these infections. A total of 150 children, aged 6 months to 11 years, were enrolled. Secondary bacterial infections were observed in 6 children (4%), of which 4 children (67%) presented with high - grade fever spikes. These infections were effectively managed with topical mupirocin and oral amoxicillin - clavulanate, with full recovery in one week. Children without secondary bacterial infections followed a typical HFMD course of less than one week, without complications. Interestingly, 10% of children did not present with intraoral lesions. These findings provide insight into the clinical characteristics of HFMD and the management of secondary bacterial skin infections.