🤒 Oral Ulcers & Fluid Intake Management in HFMD Simulator

Assessing Oral Ulcer Pain in HFMD

Painful mouth ulcers are the main barrier to feeding in HFMD.

• 5-10: Typical ulcer count (placeholder stat)
• Day 2-3: Peak pain day (placeholder stat)
• Tongue/palate: Common sites (placeholder stat)
• 5-7 days: Duration (placeholder stat)

Recognizing ulcer severity

Placeholder: check ulcer count, size, and refusal to drink.

Placeholder: severe pain drives poor intake risk.

Pain Relief Before Feeding

Giving analgesia ahead of meals improves intake tolerance.

• 30 min: Lead time (placeholder stat)
• Paracetamol: Common agent (placeholder stat)
• +25%: Intake gain (placeholder stat)
• 4-6 hrs: Dosing interval (placeholder stat)

Scheduling analgesia

Placeholder: dose before meals, not after refusal starts.

Placeholder: timing matters more than dose size.

Cold/Soft Food and Fluid Strategies

Cold, bland, soft textures reduce ulcer irritation during intake.

• Cold: Best temp (placeholder stat)
• Acidic/salty: Avoid (placeholder stat)
• Ice pops: Preferred (placeholder stat)
• Soft/pureed: Texture (placeholder stat)

Choosing feeding strategy

Placeholder: cold fluids and soft foods ease swallowing pain.

Placeholder: small frequent offers beat large meals.

Monitoring Dehydration Risk

Track urine output and mucous membranes for early dehydration signs.

• Dry mouth: Warning sign (placeholder stat)
• <4/day: Urine check (placeholder stat)
• High pain: Risk driver (placeholder stat)
• Every 4h: Reassess (placeholder stat)

Spotting early risk

Placeholder: fewer wet diapers signal rising dehydration risk.

Placeholder: pain level strongly predicts intake failure.

When IV Fluids May Be Needed

Persistent refusal despite strategies warrants IV fluid support.

• High risk: Trigger (placeholder stat)
• ED/clinic: Setting (placeholder stat)
• Bolus: Reassess after (placeholder stat)
• Rehydrate: Goal (placeholder stat)

Escalation criteria

Placeholder: escalate when oral strategies fail to sustain intake.

Placeholder: IV fluids bridge until oral pain subsides.