Hand-foot-and-mouth disease laboratory tests

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Physical examination is usually diagnostic for hand foot and mouth disease. However, throat swabs, swabs from the lesion and Tzanck test to rule out herpes simplex infection can be done.

Laboratory Findings

Throat swabs or swabs from the lesions can be sent for culture of virus or other immunological studies. Since the testing often takes 2 to 4 weeks to obtain the results and therefore not done.^[1]

Tzanck test is performed to exclude herpes simplex infection.

References

↑ Teo, Fiona Mei Shan; Chu, Justin Jang Hann (2016). “Diagnosis of human enteroviruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease”. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. 14 (5): 443–445. doi:10.1586/14787210.2016.1173543. ISSN 1478-7210.

Template:WH Template:WikiDoc Sources

[TeoChu2016-1] Teo, Fiona Mei Shan; Chu, Justin Jang Hann (2016). “Diagnosis of human enteroviruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease”. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy. 14 (5): 443–445. doi:10.1586/14787210.2016.1173543. ISSN 1478-7210.

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