Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which condition is characterized by painful sores inside the mouth and small red rashes on palms and soles?

1. Herpes simplex infection

2. Hand, foot, and mouth disease

3. Varicella infection

4. Secondary syphilis infection

The correct answer is: Hand, foot, and mouth disease

The condition characterized by painful sores inside the mouth and small red rashes on the palms and soles is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. This viral infection is most commonly caused by coxsackievirus and primarily affects children but can also occur in adults. The painful sores, also termed ulcers, develop in the mouth, making swallowing difficult and uncomfortable. Concurrently, a rash appears on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which may vary in presentation from red spots to larger blisters. This characteristic combination of oral lesions and rashes specifically distinguishes it from other conditions. Herpes simplex infection generally presents with blisters or sores grouped around the mouth or other areas but does not typically involve rashes on the palms and soles in the way described. Varicella, or chickenpox, is marked by an itchy, vesicular rash and systemic symptoms like fever but does not typically cause painful mouth sores. Secondary syphilis can cause rashes on various body parts and mucous membrane lesions but does not specifically manifest with the oral and palm/sole symptoms unique to Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. Thus, the signs and symptoms described align closely with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, making it the correct choice.