Hand, foot and mouth disease

[rivermom]

I have self-diagnosed my youngest (age 5) with this. He began running a fever (101-103) 3 days after having swum in the public pool. Today is day 3 of this terrible fever. Tonight I spotted a large, whiteish, blister in side his mouth. He has had a negative strep test. I'm expecting from the literature I've read that he will start having sores on his hands, feet and maybe his butt starting tomorrow.

The lit. also says there is no treatment, except for motrin for the fever.

I'm wondering, if I'm correct, should I even bring him to the dr., unless his fever does not diminish?

Also--for anyone with any experience with this--what do you do for the sores? I've read they may be painful for young children.

My poor boy is so miserable--he thinks he's never going to feel better and he even said that he thinks he's going to die!

I feel terrible for him and just want to do all that I can

Would appreciate any help anyone could give me.

rivermom

[ajrsmom]

I would take him to the doc. to make sure your own diagnosis is correct. Maybe the doctor can help to ease his fears.

Poor thing, I feel so bad for him.


My niece ( my ex-husband's side) had that when she was around 2. She suffered with it for a while too. I remember her mother saying that they really couldnt do anything for her.



Give him lots of extra hugs and kisses! Keep assuring him that he will be ok.

In the end, this too shall pass but it is so hard to see our kids in pain. ((((HUGS)))) to you,Mom!!



Tami

[Lifestar]

Rivermom, I hope you chose to call the doctor, ithe lesions could be herpes virus, or a different stain of strep that doesn't come up on a fast-test. Did the doctor want to see him?

The C ocksakie Virus, ( hand foot and mouth disease) is very contagious, and your poor little guy, should be "sequestered" from everyone else if possible (absolutely from pregnant folks) ..... Use paper/plastic utensles.. his own linen, seperate bathing, etc...

The blisters are very painful, (poor baby) But the real danger is if they interfere with eating/drinking, the child can became dangerously dehydrated, requiring intravenous fluind. That's what you have to watch for.

Signs of severe dehydration can include, amongst other things, parched lips and markedly decreased urination. As the seriousness progresses, you will notice loose"tenting" skin, absence of tears, a sunken apearence to eyes, and in critical stages listlesness,, and coma.

When my youngest was 2 she had the worst case of C ocksakie virus the pediatritian had ever seen. She was literally covered in sores, and was being given codine for pain. She survived with no memory of the ordeal. I on the other hand will never forget it..

Ain't that always the case??


I hope your little guy is doing OK..

Val

[debknechtel]

I would take your little guy into the doctor just to be sure ....there are so many similar viruses out there.

My 3 kids all got this virus and I remember it just like lifestar said. 2 of my kids were not so bad but I have one ds who is always the sickest out of the 3. We had areally hard time getting him to eat and drink. The blisters in his mouth were so bad. We didn't have to have him admitted but it was close. We feed him fluid in a syringe every 15 min just to keep him from going to the hospital.

I hope your liitle guy feels better soon and that you will all get some rest.

Debbie

[rivermom]

Thank you to all the concerned and caring moms out there who responded to my inquiry! It's so nice to know that there are others who have gone through the same thing.

Well--I did bring my little guy in because his fever never did go down.

Lifestar--your suggestion that it might be some other type of strep and a mouth ulcer were right on the money! The phys. asst. said one of his tonsils was "pus-sy" which I could not detect when looking in with a flashlight. And he diagnosed the lesion as a severe cold sore. He's now on antibiotics, his fever is gone and he's getting back to his "ole self".

He's never had a cold sore before to my knowledge, but my mother reports that she used to get them terribly when she was younger. I was questioning the hand-foot thing when no other sores developed.

I wish now that I had brought him right to urgent care after the negative strep test--but I have been told SO MANY times that "it's just a virus" that I thought it would just be the same old thing. I also thought the neg. strep test was the answer to that question, but I will know now not to rely totally on that.

Thanks again for everyone's input--

In deep appreciation,

rivermom

[debknechtel]

Glad to hear he is doing well and will be back to his old self. Take caree

debbie

[Lifestar]

rivermom,

I'm glad your little guy is feeling better.. and glad you're feeling good too.

My pediatrician told me once that us moms always know more than we give ourselves credit for, and to always listen to the little gut voice, no matter what the "man-in-the-white-coat" tells us... I love that doctor!! lol!

Val

[rivermom]

Thanks again ladies!!

rivermom

[Bilby]

About 12 yrs ago ds2 had hand foot and mouth disease, when I heard this I instantly thought foot and mouth disease which you get in sheep! The Doc diagnosed this but to be honest I don't even remember what we did for it, must have done what the Doc said and all worked out fine LOL

....upon reflection, sheep don't have hands LOL