hand foot and mouth disease

[wedgeitt]

Hi Does anyone have any experience of this disease? My 2 year old son has ben diagnosed today. I have no idea really about it!

[mumof2rugrats]

both my dds had this they werent ill just had the rash its quite common in young children

[wedgeitt]

Yeah Daniel doesnt seem unwell, just keeps saying'sore' and pointing in his mouth. bit worried about the fact he isnt drinking as much cos it hurts to swallow.

[FlopemOut]

Hi, my DS has had this twice. Whilst it's unpleasant, they don't seem to be very I'll with it. I used to give my son lots of cold milk, yogurt, ice cream, etc to calm his blisters in his mouth. Don't worry, it soon clears up.

[bellavita]

wedgitt - it is contagious.

My two boys had it when they were small - in fact most of the nursery had it then it was passed on to siblings.

My two were not ill as such, but the mouth blisters were very very sore and they ate a lot of icecream and soft things like croissants.

I have copied and pasted the info below

• Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
  
  
• Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
  
  *
  
  The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.
  
  
• HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

[wedgeitt]

Thanks for the info Bellavita.
We were s'posed ti be visiting his pregnant aunt next week but looks like we'll have to wait a few weeks before we see her now as the doctor warned us it can be dangerous to the unborn child.

[bellavita]