Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of controlled drinking water on the acute stage of patients with severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). MethodsA total of 68 severe HFMD children with encephalitis were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group (n=34). The control group was received routine treatment and nursing. In addition to the routine treatment and nursing, the observation group underwent strict water control. Then, both the groups were compared for the recovery time of clinical indexes, the incidence of complications and clinical efficacy. ResultsCompared with the control, children in the observation group showed remarkable decreases in the recovery time of body temperature, heart rate, the degree of blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, blood glucose level, capillary filling and limb shaking (P<0.05). The observation group reported marked decreased incidence of myocarditis, pulmonary edema, lung hemorrhage and other complications compared with the control (P<0.05). A higher efficacy was found in the observation group than the control (P<0.05). ConclusionsStrict water control can significantly improve clinical symptoms, shorten the recovery time and reduce the incidence of complications.