handfoot

Handfoot is not a standardized medical term; it is most often seen as part of phrases such as hand-foot syndrome or hand-foot-mouth disease. In anatomy, the hand and the foot are terminal limbs with parallel basic structures: bones organized into proximal to distal segments (carpal or tarsal bones, metacarpals or metatarsals, and phalanges). They contain similar soft tissues, nerve supplies, and vascular patterns, enabling grasping, manipulation, and weight-bearing. The words hand and foot are sometimes used together in studies of sensation, motor control, or dermatology to describe symptoms or findings that involve both extremities.

Hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) is a potential adverse effect of several chemotherapy drugs, such as capecitabine and liposomal doxorubicin. It presents with redness, swelling, warmth, tingling, and pain on the palms and soles, which can progress to blistering or peeling in severe cases. Onset is typically days to weeks after starting treatment. Management includes dose modification, symptomatic care (emollients, cooling, analgesia), and activity modification to reduce pressure on affected areas.

Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral illness, especially in young children, caused by enteroviruses including Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. It features fever, irritability, painful mouth ulcers, and a vesicular rash on the palms and soles. Most cases are mild and resolve in several days to a week. Treatment is supportive, emphasizing hydration, pain relief, oral care, and hygiene to limit spread.