title: A literature review and case report of hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report an uncommon case of hand, foot and mouth disease, (HFMD) in an immunocompetent adult; a highly infectious disease, characterized by the appearance of vesicles on the mouth, hands and feet, associated with coxsackieviruses and enteroviruses; including a literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 23 year Caucasian male with no medical or surgical history, no allergies, was not taking any medication and smoked ten cigarettes a day, suffering from discomfort in the oral cavity; itching, burning and pain when swallowing associated with small erythematous lesions located on the hard palate, and small ulcers in tonsillar pillars and right buccal mucosa. Mild fever of 37.8 °C and general malaise. The patient reported he had had contact with a child diagnosed with HFMD. From his background and symptoms, the patient was diagnosed with HFMD. Following symptomatic treatment, the symptoms remitted in 7 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review in MEDLINE (PubMed). The inclusion criteria were for studies on humans over the last 5 years, using the keywords HFMD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 925 articles, which were subsequently reduced to 52 documents after applying the inclusion criteria. Maculopapular lesions were found on hands and feet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentists may have a key role diagnosing the disease. A surveillance system to predict future outbreaks, encourage early diagnosis, put appropriate public health measures in place and research vaccine development is vitally important in order to control the disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.|Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Omaña-Cepeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Valverde
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.|Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Mar Sabater-Recolons
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.|Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jané-Salas
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Bellvitge (HUB), c/Feixa Llarga, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marí-Roig
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, School of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 18575jll@gmail.com.|Oral Health and Masticatory System Group (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute) IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain. 18575jll@gmail.com.|Dental Hospital Barcelona University, Universitary Campus of Bellvitge, C/Feixa LLarga S/N, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain. 18575jll@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-López
mesh_terms: D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006232:Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult; Case report; Dentistry; HFMD; Immunocompetent; Oral health