Which symptoms are characteristic of hand, foot, and mouth disease?

The characteristic symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease primarily include the presence of vesicular lesions with erythematous halos. This viral infection, commonly caused by coxsackievirus, typically results in painful sores and lesions that appear in the mouth and as a rash on the hands and feet. These vesicles are distinct in appearance, often surrounded by a red halo, which helps differentiate them from lesions seen in other conditions.

The presence of vesicular lesions is significant in the diagnosis of this disease because it highlights the typical presentation and progression of the infection. While fever may occur, it is the distinctive vesicular lesions that are most pertinent to the disease’s identification. Other options describe symptoms associated with different conditions; for example, rashes on the trunk and back or skin peeling on limbs are not characteristic of hand, foot, and mouth disease, as this condition primarily affects the extremities and oral cavity. Similarly, joint pain can occur in various viral infections but is not a hallmark of this particular illness.