What is foot and mouth disease in dairy products. Foot and mouth disease in humans: a dangerous infection

What is foot and mouth disease virus? How is the infection transmitted? What are the symptoms of the disease in animals and humans? What is foot and mouth disease? How is the disease treated? About all this we'll talk in our publication.

The causative agent of the disease

The causative agent of the foot-and-mouth disease virus is a specific structure of ribonucleic acids, which belongs to the picornavirus family. The size of such infectious particles is about 30 nanometers. The microscopic structure consists of RNA surrounded by a protein shell. Once in the body of a person or animal, the virus infects the lymph. The infection develops within 48 hours.

The foot and mouth disease virus is resistant to heat and cold in natural conditions. However, it dies instantly when exposed to temperatures above +80 °C. Being in animal feces that have ended up in environment, the infectious agent enters an inactive phase, maintaining vital activity for more than 100 days. The foot and mouth disease virus loses its ability to reproduce under the influence of ultraviolet rays, as well as disinfectants.

Mechanism of infection development

Having penetrated the body, the viral pathogen concentrates on the mucous membranes oral cavity and damaged skin areas. At sites of penetration into tissue, the infection accumulates in small vesicles. Here there is an active infection. Then the infection spreads through the bloodstream, attacking the tissues of organs and systems. Over time, intoxication of the body develops. Pathological ribonucleic acid structures settle in the epithelium of the oral cavity and nasopharynx, and concentrate in the urethra.

At-risk groups

What categories of the population are in the group increased risk infection with foot and mouth disease virus? Typically, the development of the disease is observed among personnel of livestock enterprises. As practice shows, most often the viral infection affects milkmaids, cattle herders, and people who work in slaughterhouses and meat processing plants. Sometimes, as a result of negligence in work, the pangolin virus in humans is observed among veterinarians and livestock specialists.

At the same time, not a single case of transmission of pathogens from one person to another has been recorded. This is due to a person’s low susceptibility to infection. Among other things, after recovery, people acquire short-term immunity, which lasts about a year.

Symptoms of foot and mouth disease in animals

The infection often affects young cattle. Immature animals do not have immunity against the virus and are more susceptible to the disease. The development of the disease is characterized by the appearance of fever, which is accompanied by rashes on the limbs, mucous membranes of the mouth, tissues adjacent to the horns, as well as on the skin of the udder.

The foot and mouth disease virus in animals attacks the body for 10-15 days. This is preceded by an incubation period that lasts 2-4 days. In most cases, livestock can be successfully treated. However, when severe course the disease is fatal.

Symptoms in humans

What symptoms of foot and mouth virus do people experience? Often, already during the incubation period, which lasts about a week, an infected person experiences the first characteristic features diseases. These include:

• chills;
• attacks of headache;
• general malaise;
• painful sensations in muscles;
• temperature increase to +38… +39 °C.

Then the foot and mouth disease virus in humans begins to progress. After a few days, the above symptoms are supplemented by a burning sensation and dryness in the mouth. Photophobia manifests itself, and pain occurs when urinating.

Concerning external signs foot and mouth disease virus, the appearance of small whitish bubbles on the palate, lips, and inner surface of the cheeks is noted. After about a day, such aphthae open, which leads to the formation of ulcers of a bright red hue. At this stage of development of the disease, a gradual decrease in body temperature is observed. Despite this comparative relief, the general condition of the infected person worsens. Severe pain occurs when swallowing, copious discharge saliva. Then the tissues of the tongue swell and the lips swell. Speech becomes slurred.

With absence adequate treatment foot and mouth disease virus, in humans, blistering formations move to the skin of the legs and arms. Here, aphthae heal much faster than on the mucous membranes. Within 3-5 days, no trace remains of them.

The course of the disease in children is more In addition to the above symptoms, nausea is often added, frequent urge to vomiting, upset digestive organs, change in stool structure, diarrhea.

Features of transmission of infection

The infection can spread between animals and from livestock to humans. People affected by the virus are only carriers. However, they are not able to transmit the pathogen to another person. Children are most susceptible to the virus. This is facilitated by the presence of a fragile immune system.

How is the foot and mouth disease virus transmitted? The infection is spreading contact method. Infection occurs when the pathogen enters the body while caring for cattle. The virus can concentrate on animal fur or be contained in dirt and feces.

Typically, people become infected by inhaling dust suspended in the air. Sometimes infection occurs through contact dirty hands with the mucous membranes of the mouth. The disease can also develop when consuming animal meat and milk.

Treatment of foot and mouth disease in animals

Elimination of infection occurs by isolating sick animals from the rest of the herd. The latter are kept in separate rooms. The viral pathogen is destroyed by introducing into the body disinfecting serums containing substances such as convalescents, lactoglobulins, immunolactones.

During the recovery period, animals are offered plenty of clean water and nutritious feed. The mucous membranes of the oral cavity are periodically treated with antiseptics. In order to eliminate ulcers on the surface of the skin, ointments with a healing effect are prescribed. Additionally, antibiotics and painkillers may be used.

In case of widespread infection in the herd, quarantine is introduced. When epidemics occur, sick livestock are destroyed. Animal carcasses are disposed of by burning in ovens. Quarantine measures are terminated after 21 days have passed since the last case of infection was recorded.

Treatment of foot and mouth disease in humans

Therapy for infection viral pathogen requires placing the infected person in a hospital. Treatment involves regular disinfection of the oral cavity, healing of formed ulcers, and the use of measures aimed at alleviating general condition sick.

Infected people are offered easily digestible food with a semi-liquid consistency. Food should be at room temperature and not contain ingredients that can irritate the mucous membranes. With widespread distribution ulcerative manifestations Nutrition is provided to the patient through the introduction of food through a tube.

In order to local treatment use laser and ultraviolet radiation. For speedy healing For ulcers, tissue treatment with florenal, oxolinic or interferon ointment is prescribed.

To alleviate the patient's suffering during treatment, painkillers, cardiovascular, and antipyretic drugs are used. pharmacological preparations. If necessary, carry out measures aimed at removing toxins from the body. To maintain immunity, vitamin complexes are prescribed.

In most cases, foot and mouth disease is not a problem for humans mortal danger. Forecasts for such viral infection extremely favorable. Complete recovery with the formation of appropriate immunity occurs in a fairly short period. The disease does not leave behind any consequences. Cases of death are rarely observed only among newborns and toddlers early age.

Prevention

To prevent infection with the foot-and-mouth disease virus, personal hygiene and adherence to sanitary standards. In order to prevent the disease, appropriate vaccination of animals is often carried out.

Of particular importance in terms of prevention is following instructions while working on farms, slaughterhouses, and meat processing plants. According to the regulations, it is necessary to care for livestock wearing special clothing, a protective mask, and gloves. After finishing work, it is important to wash your hands with soap.

In order not to once again expose yourself to the risk of infection with the virus, you should eat only proven, safe products of animal origin. Dishes in which meat or milk was stored raw must be thoroughly cleaned using detergent.

Last recorded case of foot and mouth disease epidemic

In October of this year, the foot-and-mouth disease virus was recorded in Bashkiria. A state of emergency was introduced in the villages of Ermukhametovo and Urmekeyevo, which are located in the Tuymazinsky district. In the region, roads leading to the marked settlements were blocked, and checkpoints were also installed. Special units to eliminate emergency situations disinfection stations have been installed. Active measures have begun to disinfect farms.

During the elimination of the epidemic, the foot-and-mouth disease virus was discovered in dairy products. Selling the latter from hand to hand was prohibited. in the above populated areas had to be destroyed. The remaining animals in the surrounding regions were vaccinated. On this moment meat and milk are not sold to both the population and enterprises until the foot-and-mouth disease virus is completely destroyed in Bashkiria.

Finally

As you can see, foot and mouth disease is a fairly dangerous infection. viral nature, which can cause significant losses to livestock farms. However, provided that the established instructions and personal hygiene are followed, the disease does not pose a danger to humans. If the infection still manages to infect the body, the forecasts for full recovery positive here.

What is foot and mouth disease? This is an acute viral infection that can be transmitted from a sick animal to humans. How does this happen? What are the signs and symptoms of foot and mouth disease in a person? How are people treated for this disease? Is it possible to save an animal that has this disease or not? You can find out the answers to all these questions by reading the article.

History and distribution of the disease

The clinical picture of this disease was first described in the 18th century. Answer the question of what foot and mouth disease is and prove it viral etiology Frosch and Leffler were able to. They did this in 1988.

Widespread viral infection among animals over a large area occurs everywhere until the 21st century. Foot and mouth disease in humans is very rarely recorded at this time.

Epidemiology of the disease

Two-hoofed animals are considered the source of infection. Basically, these include: Very rarely, pigs, goats and sheep get sick. Typically, a person becomes infected by consuming raw milk. Foot and mouth disease is also transmitted through direct contact with sick animals.

A person himself cannot infect another person. Most often children get sick. Because they are the ones who consume milk as a drink. The source of diseases in adults is their profession. In addition, as mentioned above, a person will become infected if there is an undisinfected dairy product in his diet.

Causes of the disease

Foot and mouth disease. What kind of disease is this and what is its causative agent? It turns out that the main “culprit” is considered to be picornavirus, which belongs to the aphthovirus family. It contains RNA and is stable in the external environment. The virus remains viable on the fur of sick animals for up to one month, and on human clothing for up to 21 days. In addition, it can easily tolerate drying and freezing. The virus becomes inactive when irradiated ultraviolet rays, heating and exposure to disinfectant solutions. There are 3 known stereotypes: A, B, C.

Primary aphtha appears in the oral mucosa. It happens that the virus enters the blood. It forms secondary aphthae in the skin of the hands and mucous membranes. After this, viremia develops. The latter, in turn, is accompanied by intoxication. This is the beginning of the disease.

Cases deaths may be if a secondary infection, myocarditis and dehydration are added.

How does foot and mouth disease spread?

The source of the disease is both wild animals and livestock. Some rodents are susceptible to this virus. Fortunately, they do not have any significant effect on the spread of foot and mouth disease.

In turn, birds do not get this disease. But they are carriers of the disease during migration.

Animals suffering from this disease excrete the pathogen in urine, milk, feces and saliva.

Foot and mouth disease is transmitted through a contact mechanism, that is, a person becomes infected when the virus gets on the skin or mucous membrane. Due to its high resistance, the infection can be introduced into areas that are far from the source of the disease. Thus, foot and mouth disease affects farm animals.

Routes of infection

Having learned the definition of what foot and mouth disease is, we note that there are several reasons leading to the development of the disease:

• animal care;
• processing of hides and wool;
• inhalation of dust particles that contain the virus;
• consumption of unproperly processed meat and dairy products from a sick animal.

Unfortunately, people's natural susceptibility to the virus is not that high. After a person suffers from the disease, it lasts for about 1.5 years.

Symptoms of foot and mouth disease

Incubation period The disease lasts from a couple of days to two weeks. Foot and mouth disease begins suddenly. Body temperature rises sharply and chills are noted. A strong one appears headache and aching limbs.

At the end of the day, most patients complain of a burning sensation in the mouth. TO additional symptoms The disease includes damage to the mucous membrane of the urethra. Namely, in this case, patients say that they experience painful urination.

When examining an infected person, signs such as pain and enlargement of regional lymph nodes, severe swelling of the oral mucosa are revealed. The latter is covered with small bubbles, which are also called aphthae. There is a clear or cloudy liquid inside them. They are located along the edges, as well as on the tip of the tongue.

Exactly 24 hours later, the aphthae opens. After them, erosions remain, which sometimes merge.

If the mucous membrane of the cavity is extensively affected, then the person has difficulty swallowing and has difficulty speaking. The infected person's lips are swollen. A crust appears on them. In addition, erosions can appear not only on the tongue, but also on the wings of the nose. There are cases of skin lesions around the nails and between the fingers. Sometimes the disease is characterized by the fact that in the presence of the last symptom, there may not be erosion in the genital cavity.

Signs of illness in children

As mentioned above, most often infection occurs due to the fact that the child consumes the milk of a sick animal.

Foot and mouth disease in children is much more severe than in adults. They experience severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and dyspeptic disorders. When the disease occurs, epithelium forms at the site of erosion after 3 days. At this time, the fever also subsides. As a rule, a child’s complete recovery is observed after two weeks. But, if there are significant lesions of both the oral mucosa and the skin, then this period can last up to a month. Sometimes new secondary water cavities may form.

How does the disease develop in animals?

A virus that enters the body of livestock through the outer integument or digestive tract, penetrates epithelial cells. This is where its reproduction and fixation occurs. Subsequently, the animal develops serous inflammatory process. They develop two primary aphthae. As a rule, livestock owners do not notice this. During this period of development of the disease, the condition and behavior of the animal does not change in any way. A day later, the second phase begins.

Afterwards it enters the blood and all organs. This process causes an acute febrile reaction in the animal.

As a result, a large number of secondary aphthae appear in the epidermis in the interhoof cleft, oral cavity and on the skin of the udder nipples.

If treatable, then in animals years. As a rule, in this case, all livestock that were in contact with the infected person are destroyed. IN otherwise the virus can spread to other healthy animals.

Diagnosis of the disease

Foot and mouth disease in humans should be distinguished from diseases such as drug allergy And chicken pox, acute herpetic stomatitis.

The diagnosis is mainly made on the basis of the characteristic clinical signs of the disease and the patient’s complaints.

To confirm the diagnosis in a laboratory, you can also infect guinea pigs. To do this, the test material is rubbed into the skin of their paw pads.

Also, one of the methods for diagnosing foot and mouth disease is the complement fixation reaction with a specific antigen. Positive reaction appears after two weeks of illness. The test requires blood from the patient's vein.

Complications of the disease

Why is foot and mouth disease dangerous for people? The consequences of the disease are extremely rare. This may occur due to various secondary infections. In children, diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration.

In adults, meningitis, myocarditis, pneumonia and sepsis may occur.

If complications develop due to the disease, treatment with antibiotics will be required. They will help in the fight against infection.

Treatment of the disease

The patient must be in a hospital. Proper oral care and local treatment are provided here. Methods are also used to relieve symptoms.

While the patient has affected areas in his mouth, he will need to take food only in liquid or semi-liquid, easily digestible form. In addition, the temperature of the food should be moderate.

Ointments such as oxolinic and interferon are used locally. Physiotherapeutic procedures are also widely practiced. Basically, patients are prescribed laser and ultraviolet irradiation.

Antipyretics and painkillers medications, as well as cardiovascular drugs can be prescribed strictly only by a specialist. If necessary, detoxification measures are carried out. For general strengthening vitamins are prescribed to the patient's body.

FMD prognosis

In general, adult patients recover within two weeks after the onset of the disease. In this case, the prognosis is favorable. There are no consequences.

For young children whose disease is severe, the prognosis is serious. Possible death.

Disease prevention

The basis of this event is veterinary control over the health of farm animals. After all, foot and mouth disease most often occurs in cows.

For this purpose, sanitary and hygienic control is carried out over the health and working conditions of people working at agricultural enterprises. It is necessary to vaccinate animals against foot and mouth disease in a timely manner. There are special inactivated vaccines for this purpose.

Individual prevention consists of observing personal hygiene measures when working with animal raw materials and livestock. In addition, it is necessary to protect against injury skin.

To other people, those who do not work in the field Agriculture, you should also be careful and careful. You should eat meat and dairy products that have been necessary processing. This mainly concerns the nutrition of children. Before giving meat or milk to a child, it must be subjected to thorough heat treatment. In this case, if there is a virus in the food, it will die during cooking. Vaccination of people against foot and mouth disease is not carried out.

Thus, after reading this article, you can easily answer the question: “What is foot and mouth disease?” Symptoms of the disease and preventive measures will help others protect themselves from this disease. Remember that following a few recommendations will help you avoid this terrible disease and stay healthy.

In regions of Russia with developed livestock farming, even in our century high technology There are periodic outbreaks of zoonoses - diseases transmitted from animals to humans. They not only cause severe harm health, but also huge damage to the country's economy. One of these diseases is foot and mouth disease - a dangerous acute viral infection characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose, the skin of the periungual bed and interdigital folds.

Features of the virus

The causative agent of foot-and-mouth disease is a rather small (diameter does not exceed 30 nm) RNA-containing virus belonging to the Picornaviridae family and the Afthovirus genus. Science knows seven of its types: O, A, C, SAT-1, SAT-2, SAT-3, Asia-1. Moreover, if an animal was sick with one of these types, then after recovery it can easily become infected with any other. In addition, immunity after illness remains for a period not exceeding eighteen months.

The foot and mouth disease virus can remain in the external environment for quite a long time. Thus, on the surface of objects it retains its ability to infect animals and humans for 150 days, and in manure it remains active for 168 days. The virus remains unchanged on the fur of mammals and clothing of people for 28 to 40 days.

In dairy products, the shelf life of the virus varies somewhat. For example, in milk, whose temperature is maintained at 37 degrees, the pathogen remains active for twelve hours, but in a refrigerated product this period increases to 47 days. But in fermented milk products And when making cheese, the virus quickly dies.

Low temperatures do not destroy the pathogen, and it lives in frozen carcasses for about 40 days. Heating, on the contrary, inactivates the pathogen quite quickly. So, at 60 degrees the virus dies in 15 minutes, and a temperature of 80-100 degrees kills it almost instantly.

For disinfection of premises and care items, 2−3% concentration is best suited. hot solution caustic soda or potassium, 1-2% solution of formaldehyde and 20% solution of freshly slaked lime. These agents inactivate the virus within ten minutes.

Some veterinary information

All artiodactyl animals are susceptible to foot and mouth disease - large cattle, pigs, small cattle, deer. Buffaloes and camels are less susceptible. If dogs and cats drink contaminated milk, they too can easily become infected. Among laboratory animals, marine animals, rabbits and mice are susceptible.

It should be noted that birds and horses do not suffer from foot and mouth disease. But birds, like rodents, take an active part in the spread of infection.

All susceptible animals can become infected with foot and mouth disease, regardless of gender and age. But young animals get sick much more severely than adults, and deaths are common among calves, piglets and lambs.

Nowadays, outbreaks of the disease are recorded in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. In Russia, the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic was last recorded in 2015 in the Amur region, Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories.

Healthy animals become infected through nutritional and aerogenic routes. The virus can be brought onto a farm in various ways:

1. With sick animals.
2. With contaminated feed and water.
3. With infected care items.
4. Service personnel - cattlemen, milkmaids, veterinarians - can bring the pathogen on their clothes and shoes.
5. On the wheels of cars entering the farm.

Animals on the farm eat feed and inhale dust containing the infectious agent. And, entering the body through mucous membranes and damaged skin, the virus penetrates the epithelium and begins to actively multiply. In this case, primary aphthae are formed in the interhoof gap or in the mouth - no more than two pieces. The next day, the virus spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream. Because of this, the animal experiences an increase in body temperature, refusal to feed, and a depressed state.

The immune system of the sick person destroys the pathogen in almost the entire body. The exception is the cells of the mucous membrane and skin, which are poorly supplied with blood and, accordingly, with antibodies. The virus multiplies well in them, as a result of which many aphthae form in the mouth, in the interhoof gap, on the crown of the hoof and on the skin of the udder nipples, which cause severe anxiety to the animal.

In artiodactyls with weak immunity, as well as in young animals, damage to skeletal and cardiac muscles is possible.

In adult animals, foot and mouth disease occurs in two forms:

1. Typical.
2. Atypical, which, in turn, is divided into malignant, abortive and latent.

In adult cows and sheep, the symptoms of the disease are almost the same - a short-term increase in temperature, the formation of aphthae, erosions, and salivation. Damage to the udder is accompanied by the development of mastitis. After 8-10 days recovery occurs. In young animals, foot and mouth disease is accompanied by signs of gastroenteritis or bronchopneumonia. If help is not provided in time, the young animals will die.

In adult pigs, the oral cavity is rarely affected; aphthae are located on the limbs, snout and mammary glands. The duration of the disease ranges from eight to twenty-five days. In piglets, a septic form of foot and mouth disease is observed, in which 60–100% of the young animals die in the first days of the disease.

In adult goats, the clinical picture is less pronounced than in cows. The oral cavity, limbs and udder are affected. There is no drooling, but grinding of teeth can be heard. Animals usually recover within two weeks.

In adult deer, aphthae appear on the mucous membrane of the mouth and the skin of the limbs. In addition, diarrhea is noted. If the disease is not complicated by accompanying microflora, then after 14 days the animals recover.

During treatment, it is necessary to create for patients optimal conditions- the room must be clean and well ventilated, and there must be dry bedding. It is best to use bran mash as feed. Patients are provided with complete rest. All ulcers are treated with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate or a 0.5% solution of furatsilin. For the hooves, baths are made with a 5% formaldehyde solution.

If the disease is severe or complicated by a concomitant infection, then treatment takes more time and effort. Apply special drugs, supporting immunity, cardiovascular system. And to treat hooves with signs of necrosis, novocaine blockades and antibiotics are used.

To prevent foot and mouth disease, farms carry out routine vaccination of cloven-hoofed animals and prevent the introduction of the virus into the territory with feed and water. It is mandatory to install sanitary checkpoints and quarantine newly imported animals.

Foot and mouth disease and medicine

Foot and mouth disease is a disease that is transmitted from a sick animal not only to a healthy animal, but also to humans. There are several options for contracting this viral infection:

Most often, the virus enters the human body during consumption of contaminated products. Therefore, unpasteurized milk must be boiled, and meat obtained from artiodactyl animals must be cooked longer.

Mechanism of development and symptoms of the disease

The virus enters the human body through mucous membranes and injured skin. At the site of penetration, a bubble filled with a turbid liquid is formed - aphtha. It is here that the virus multiplies throughout the entire incubation period, which lasts on average from two to six days. After this time, the bubble bursts, and the pathogen penetrates into the bloodstream epithelial cells oral mucosa. In addition, the foot and mouth disease virus in humans is also localized in the skin around the nails and between the fingers and toes.

Numerous aphthae filled with cloudy exudate appear in the mouth and on the surface of the skin. After a few days they burst, ulcers form, which gradually unite, occupying large areas.

For foot and mouth disease, the symptoms are quite characteristic, so it is difficult to confuse it with other diseases. In humans, the disease is always acute. At the beginning of the pathology, a person feels weak, body temperature rises to 40 degrees, suffers from headaches, and loss of appetite.

As aphthae appears, the symptoms become more numerous. There is a burning sensation in the mouth, the formation of bubbles filled with liquid, pain when chewing food, increased salivation. After aphthae appear on the body, hyperthermia persists for about 5-6 days. And then the temperature begins to gradually decrease. This indicates the beginning of the healing process, which can last about 14 days.

In this case, the disease is tolerated quite easily by adults. Unlike children, who have much more rashes and much more pain. If a child is infected by consuming milk, the clinical picture will resemble poisoning. In this case, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are observed.

Young children are very seriously ill. Unfortunately, the prognosis for them may be unfavorable. There are known cases of children dying as a result of infection with the foot and mouth disease virus.

Establishing diagnosis

Foot and mouth disease is a disease whose specific symptoms allow a diagnosis to be made fairly quickly. But sometimes you can observe less pronounced Clinical signs. In this case FMD is quite easily confused with other diseases:

1. Chicken pox.
2. Herpetic stomatitis.
3. Erythema.

Sometimes aphthous skin lesions due to a viral infection are similar to a rash that occurs as a result of an allergy.

For staging accurate diagnosis The attending physician collects the most complete information about the patient. First of all, the doctor is interested in the place of residence of the victim, namely the well-being of the area regarding foot and mouth disease. This is followed by questions about whether the person had contact with sick animals, and whether he consumed raw milk. Having collected an anamnesis, the doctor sends the patient to undergo laboratory research. The patient must undergo tests - blood, saliva and feces. And in the laboratory they will conduct serological diagnostics, which allows you to determine the presence of antibodies in the blood.

Only after collecting anamnesis and conducting all the necessary laboratory tests will the doctor be able to make a final diagnosis.

Giving help

Having identified the disease, the doctor sends the patient to a hospital for two weeks, where he receives specialized assistance. Since there are no specific drugs for the treatment of foot and mouth disease, the patient is prescribed drugs that alleviate his condition and a special diet.

Due to the fact that foot and mouth disease affects the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, food intake is accompanied by severe pain. Therefore, the patient is organized frequent meals in small portions and drinking plenty of fluids. Food must be liquid and warm. If the pain is too strong, then they resort to feeding through a tube.

Treatment boils down to treating the affected mucous membrane and skin. To do this, use hydrogen peroxide, a solution of silver nitrate, potassium permanganate or rivanol. After washing the wounds, apply various drugs local action. Most often, oxolinic, florenal, interferon and other antiviral ointments are used for these purposes.

Damaged areas are treated antiseptic sprays. These drugs destroy pathogenic microflora, preventing it from developing.

Antiviral drugs are often prescribed in the form of tablets and capsules. They help the body cope with the pathogen and help alleviate the general condition.

Because of large quantity prescribed medications, a person may develop an allergy. To avoid this, the patient is prescribed medicines having antihistamine properties.

Except specific symptoms, foot and mouth disease is also characterized by clinical signs common to most infections - increased body temperature, soreness and aches in the muscles and joints. To alleviate the condition, the patient is prescribed antipyretics and painkillers.

If secondary microflora joins the viral process, then it is necessary to use antibiotics that destroy microbes that cause various diseases.

To increase the body's resistance, the patient is prescribed various vitamins and, if necessary, immunostimulants.

In addition to medications, physiotherapy is often used in hospital settings. These include, for example, laser treatment. Before using it, the doctor applies a solution of methylene blue to the affected areas. After this, the laser beam comes into operation, which affects the damage for five minutes, promoting tissue regeneration.

To treat mucous membranes, not only laser is used, but also aerosol therapy. Wherein medicinal substances, as tiny particles, penetrate deeply into the affected tissues, where they exert their therapeutic effect.

Preventive actions

The main point in the prevention of foot and mouth disease is compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. If there is an outbreak of an epidemic on the farm, then all sick animals are isolated. They are cared for by farm workers only in special clothing. After leaving the premises where sick animals are kept, the work uniform must be removed and hands must be washed thoroughly. Passage from the isolation ward is only possible through a disinfection barrier.

It is strictly forbidden to consume milk from animals suspected of having a disease without subjecting it to heat treatment. Products from diseased artiodactyls are destroyed.

It is always better to thoroughly boil and fry the meat. After preparing food, it is recommended to wash all utensils, as well as hands, thoroughly using detergents.

After contact with any animals, regardless of their health status, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

Foot and mouth disease is a disease that occurs in humans almost always in acute form and ends with recovery. And although treating this infection is not so difficult, it is much easier to prevent its occurrence by observing the necessary rules of personal hygiene. In addition, having noticed the first clinical signs of the disease, there is no need to make an independent diagnosis. It is better to immediately consult a doctor for qualified help, without waiting for complications to develop.

General information about the disease

Foot and mouth disease is an infection that affects cattle, goats, pigs, camels, yaks, and deer. This viral disease most often found in countries whose population is predominantly engaged in agriculture.

There are known cases when other domestic animals also became ill with foot-and-mouth disease: cats, dogs, horses, wild boars, even some species of birds and rodents (rats, gophers, mice). The causative agent of foot and mouth disease in infected animals is excreted along with milk, urine, feces, droppings, saliva, and transmission of the disease occurs when direct contact in places where they are kept, in a pasture or watering place.

A person can become infected with foot and mouth disease only from animals, by contacting them and consuming contaminated raw dairy products. When pasteurization and boiling of milk (the main methods of preventing foot-and-mouth disease), the causative agent of foot-and-mouth disease dies. The statistics of human infection with this infection are approximately as follows: 65% of cases of foot and mouth disease infection as a result of consuming raw milk, 1% - consuming other dairy products: curdled milk, kefir, butter, whey produced from raw milk, and, finally, in 34%, infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus in humans occurred as a result of contact with sick animals. IN the latter case Bedding, drinking bowls, feed, water, manure, and even the clothing of farm workers can serve as carriers of the disease. It has also been established that the fur of an infected animal is contagious for at least another month.

Cow, goat, and camel milk are contagious even before external signs of foot and mouth disease (ulcers on the mucous membrane) appear, and remain so for another 12 days. At the same time, a quarantine is established, during which especially great attention is devoted to the prevention of foot and mouth disease.

Clinical picture and symptoms of foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease in humans penetrates into the mucous membrane of the mouth and (or) upper respiratory tract. Bubbles appear in these places, which collapse after the incubation period (from three to eight days), as a result of which the foot-and-mouth disease virus enters the blood. At this stage, they are formed secondary rashes on the mucous membranes of the lips, nose, pharynx, mouth, cheeks, tongue.

This is followed by the septic stage of foot and mouth disease, which is characterized by elevated temperature (up to 40°) and the appearance of blisters on the skin (between the fingers and near the nails). From blood vessels foot and mouth virus enters internal organs and is excreted in feces, urine, saliva, and bile.

The general condition of a patient with foot and mouth disease at the onset of the disease is severe - elevated temperature, weakness, chills, low blood pressure, headache and increased heart rate. All this happens in the first two days of the disease, and the symptoms of foot and mouth disease are most pronounced and painful on the first day: a person’s mucous membranes of the nose, tongue, mouth are painful, he may feel a burning sensation in the mouth, experience muscle and lumbar pain. Also observed profuse salivation, the mucous membranes of the cheeks, tongue, lips, arches and soft palate. There are also cases when a patient, among the usual symptoms of foot and mouth disease, experienced mild disorder stomach, pain when urinating.

On initial stage diseases on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, pharynx, cheeks, tongue of a patient with foot and mouth disease, rashes appear and last an average week, after which, after one or two days, blisters form in place of small wounds, gradually merging into one lesion. Especially often, ulcers appear on the patient’s tongue, making it difficult for him to swallow and speak. The lips also become swollen, they also become covered with wounds and crusts.

After symptoms of foot and mouth disease such as secondary rashes appear (on the skin of the hands and near the nails), another three to five days pass, and the patient’s temperature begins to drop, reaches normal, and he begins to recover. The recovery period usually lasts no more than 15 days. After suffering from foot and mouth disease, a person develops immunity to this disease.

Treatment of foot and mouth disease

A patient with foot and mouth disease must be hospitalized for at least two weeks. Particularly important bed rest at initial acute course diseases. A patient with foot and mouth disease is prescribed a gentle diet with drinking plenty of fluids and feeding several times a day in small portions of semi-liquid or liquid food, which is easy to digest. Cases of tube feeding are also common. Before eating, a patient with foot and mouth disease is given anesthesin (0.1 g).

Foot and mouth disease is treated with antiviral drugs, which are prescribed from the very first days of the disease. These are local rinsing with 1% potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide or rivanol solution, and applying ointments, for example, oxolinic, florenal, tebrofen, riodoxol, interferon.

For more intensive healing of ulcers, ultraviolet irradiation and aerosols “Livian”, “Vinizol”, “Panthenol” can be used.

In case of particularly severe foot and mouth disease in humans, painkillers, antihistamines, cardiovascular drugs, vitamins, carry out detoxification measures.

Particular attention throughout the treatment of foot and mouth disease is paid to the patient’s oral hygiene.

Prevention of foot and mouth disease

Prevention of foot and mouth disease consists of strict adherence to sanitary measures and personal safety measures when caring for infected animals. It is imperative to boil and pasteurize milk brought from disadvantaged areas prone to foot-and-mouth disease epidemics. You cannot consume raw milk, dairy products, or meat from an unknown, unverified manufacturer or purchased in spontaneous markets.

According to many doctors, no better prevention foot and mouth disease than educating agricultural workers and the population, publishing statistics on foot and mouth disease due to violation of quarantine and basic sanitary rules.

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