Hand foot and mouth - can it start in nappy area?

[HotelFromage]

Pray tell, citizens of Mumsnet, does this sound like HFM to you?

DD is 21 mo

Reduced appetite, otherwise fine for several days now ( thought it was more teeth)
Lunchtime today, red spots just in nappy area. At last nappy change these had diminished
Now spots on feet, hands and lower legs, slightly raised.
No joy with investigating the mouth area so that must remain a mystery for now

First day back (teaching) for me tomorrow - will she have to stay off nursery? Not experienced this particular affliction chez Fromage before so not sure.

[kelda]

Yes sounds like HFM. Does she have a temperature?

[HotelFromage]

Hmmm, will attempt temperature taking

[CitrusyOne]

Dd started with a really high temp, then had a rash all over nappy area and finally watery-like blisters on her fingers and hands. Sounds like HFM to me too. Just watch out you don't catch it- really nasty for adults apparently :(

[HotelFromage]

Oh bugger - my immune system is spectacularly poor at the moment; just had 2 bouts of Quinsy. I am already itching!

[getoffthecoffeetable]

That's just how DS started with it. Hope your DC is better soon and that you don't catch it

[CitrusyOne]

At first I thought dd was teething the way she was gnawing on her finger- we thought it was the gnawing that had produced the sore blister, then the rash came up and dr google said HFM.

[CitrusyOne]

And to be fair, I think she was through the worst of it by the time we worked out what it was!!

[Curtsey]

Just over a bout of it here and same as citrusy, the temp came first. It was a dramatic temp and DD was wiped out. Fine the next day but that's when the rash struck. Poor DP got it too and the itching was unreal. Not much to be done besides calpol and keeping her at home until 7 days after spots appear.

[HotelFromage]

Thanks everyone!

[MrsMangoBiscuit]

Rashes can often appear first in the nappy area as they're warmer there. I caught HFM from DD, who was fine again very quickly. Bloody awful cough that got nasty very quickly, so if you do start feeling run down, or coughing, please take it easy and try to rest up.

Hope you're all feeling better soon.

[Shattereddreams]

Mouth ulcers can be awful. Ds didn't eat for a week. Nearly hospitalised with dehydration.
Difflam mouth spray is good

Hope he feels better soon

[ilovepowerhoop]

the Health Protection Agency doesnt give an exclusion period for HFM unless there are a lot if children affected. I would check with the nursery as to whether they have an exclusion policy for HFM.

[HotelFromage]

Thanks for the link ilovepowerhoop. I have emailed nursery to say DD is coming in tomorrow "in accordance with HPA guidance"!

[LittleOne76]

DS and I both had this about six weeks ago. Started with DS having a fever and vomited once or twice over 24 hours and then he got the blisters on his hands, around his mouth, knees and on his feet. He didn't have them in his nappy area but got a few on his upper thighs. I came down with it a few days after and got them on my hands and feet and in the mouth/ throat. Worst sore throat ever. I don't think DS got them in his mouth as he still ate and drank quite well. The blisters started to clear after about 5-7 days and were quite itchy and sore for the first 3-4 days. Sleep disrupted. One thing no one talks about is that the skin on the fingers and toes start to peel about two weeks after as part if the healing process and DS has now lost a few finger nails. Think his two big toe ones are about to go as well. He doesn't seem bothered by the nails at all so I figure no pain. New nails are growing underneath and the old ones lift off from the bottom. My nails are ok so far but my hands peeled for a while and feet are still peeling. It's pretty awful but don't think it's as bad as chicken pox. I was sick as a dog for about a week... Hope you are all okay..

[LittleOne76]

Don't think the nail thing happens to everyone. I had no idea that it was something that could happen until I started dr googling and saw that it does seem relatively common if the HfM is caused by a particular strain of the virus...

[SweepTheHalls]

I hope your nursery was more reasonable than mine! No nursery until every blister fully healed, that was 2 full weeks! Work were not impressed, and nor was he as after 2 days he was completely better in himself.

[Fionaz]

My daughter had this aprrox 3 months ago, she was just over 2 years old at the time, started off with high temp, and cold symptoms,then spots appeared on her nappy area,legs,elbows,feet and hand, 4 days after the spots appeared they changed colour looked more painful brought her to doctors again then she was sent to hospital were they were testing her for kawasaki disease but thank god it turned out to be just n extreme case of hand and foot, she was discharged 48 hours later, about 6 weeks after she lost all her toenails and fingernails and still has not regained her appetite and has had 2 colds since, completely run down from it ,it can be a very cruel virus :(

[Fionaz]

my daughter has just being diagnosed with this again, so you can have it twice,
i would of thought after the 1st episode of it she would of built up immunity for it