Is There a Difference Between Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Rotavirus?
Is There a Difference Between Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Rotavirus?A reader asks:”My Grandsons are 10 months and 3 years old and have had all the symptoms described, but also have little blisters in the mouth, on the fingers and toes plus a rash on the body. It is painful to swallow, let alone eat. Would you think this would be rotovirus? Is rotovirus the same as what the doctor called hand, foot & mouth virus?”Answer: The symptoms you describe are part of hand, foot and mouth disease, which is caused by the coxsackievirus. It’s important to watch your grandsons to make sure they are getting enough fluids. Dehydration is a problem due to fever and because it’s painful to eat and drink. If the fever lasts more than a few days, you should contact the boys’ health care provider. You mention that the boys have other symptoms and ask about rotavirus. The symptoms are not the same and the illnesses are indeed different — they are even caused by different types of viruses. If the boys
