Hand foot and mouth disease

[AlligatorsMum]

Seems my DS has hfmd :-(

We were up pretty much all night as he has a log of sores around his mouth and bum. Any advice in how to relieve the pain a little. I am giving nurofen when I can but didn't seem to help much last night

[Artechim]

DD2 just had it last week. Doesn't seem to be much you can do with the fever/sore throat/headache part. I gave her panadol which helped with the temp but she was pretty miserable for a few days (and nights). Once that bit passed she seemed a lot happier and she didn't get very much rash. Look out for blisters in his mouth.

[megs]

Yes unfortunate not much you can do but keep up the pain relief. My 3rd son had it really badly. I ended up having to give him panadol suppositories as he had so many blisters in his mouth it was to painful to medicate him orally.

[Babyluv]

My dd had a very severe case and the gp recommended Zyrtec for little kids, it really helped her with the discomfort and she was able to sleep.

[AlligatorsMum]

I don't know if it's severe or not. I can't see things in his mouth but he isn't sleeping really at all. Maybe about five hours last night and an hour yesterday arvo and nothing so far today.

I'm just exhausted and wish he would nap so we could both rest.

[milly5]

Hi,

when my DD1 was sick, pharmacist suggested alternating panadol and neurofen doses, every 4-6 hours because they are different and can be given together. but not if she had an upset tummy (or not eating) as neurofen can aggravate that. and nappy rash cream - Nappy Goo (has zinc and tea tree oil and some other stuff in it) is quite soothing. I have even used it! Tepid baths for the fever.
hope he is better soon!

[Mrs O'M]

It seems my DS has come down with this too, except he has it on his chin as well as the mouth.... Any other ideas to keep him comfy apart from some panadol? He already suffers from excema so we have oodles of creams around.

[AlligatorsMum]

Oh Mrs O'M im so sorry to hear that! DS only had a few in his mouth (i only ever saw one?) so Thankfully i would call his HFMD a mild case.

Ive just realised ive come out with it but I ONLY have the mouth ulcers. Ive had the ulcers now for about four days which i can tell you are so painful and uncomfortable i am just so thankful my DS didnt get them in his mouth. I am in a fair amount of pain and it is very difficult to talk, eat anything (hot or cold) and sleeping is also pretty difficult. I have been taking a mixture of antiseptic mouth wash, difflam losanges and nurofen.

i think the difficult thing for little ones are the fact that any numbing stuff for the mouth shouldnt be swallowed, and i just dont know how that is possible with little ones. My son sure doesnt understand spit dont swallow!

I would just keep up with the nurofen and panadol. i alternated the two in the worst days. i hope your little one recovers quickly!

edit - if the mouth ulcers are really painful, my peadiatrician was going to give me a script for Xylocaine Jelly, but again this is supposed to be wiped all round his mouth and then spat out / not swallowed otherwise the whole throat goes numb, which is difficult for little ones to swallow etc... I chose not to use it cuz he didnt have mouth ulcers and was eating fine. Just thought i would give you the name of it incase. You do need a script for it though.

[Williever]

DS has this now. I've just had an embryo transfer. I am feeling very worried.
He is not sleeping. Has the ulcers/blisters on his hands, feet, legs and face and in the mouth. Feel so bad for him :-(

[AlligatorsMum]

Williever - I'm sorry to hear ur DS has hfmd! It's horrible isn't it!
As for your transfer - I actually had hfmd myself two weeks ago right around when I ovulated - I am 4wks3days at the moment so it is def possible to fall pregnant with the virus... I guess only time will tell if it had any effect on the egg quality.

I hope u get some good news in a few weeks and your DS recovers quickly

[Williever]

That's a real relief to read that Alligatorsmum! Thank you for brightening my morning.

[Williever]

And congratulations xxx

[Williever]

Confirmed by a doctor who says its severe and infected. Called childcare and they had another child with it on Friday.
Is there something else I should be asking them? He is constantly sick. I'm worried about their cleaning.

[Dansta]

Dj had this about two weeks ago.
His wasnt too bad - lucky for us he didnt seemed overly fussed by it - i copped it too and my lord its not cool

[milly5]

Confirmed by a doctor who says its severe and infected. Called childcare and they had another child with it on Friday.
Is there something else I should be asking them? He is constantly sick. I'm worried about their cleaning.

HFM is a highly contagious virus. Like most virus, it tends to do the rounds this time of year. My dr also told me that a child under one in care or exposed to other children (siblings in school, or attends playgroups etc) will get sick on average once every six weeks. It is not usually a cause for concern however, as it is usually only a mild illness, which affects them because of their under-developed immune systems, and will in many cases help build their immunity.

sorry to hear your son is so sick though, and I hope he is well soon.

[Williever]

See he is sick more often then that. That's my concern. I understand that kids catch everything.
Thanks for the replies. I feel better. Bub looks awful. Covered in blisters, but with the antibiotics (infection) he seems better in himself.
Drs tomorrow.

[Astrid]

DD2 has this. She seems fine though, rather bubbly, but was a cranky pants at the start of the week (maybe it was related). Only on hands and feet for the moment, hoping it stays that way.

[Dansta]

astrid - Dj was the same about 48hrs before bumps came up he was tired and had his fit. then perked right up and realised he could itch his hands on Dh's face stubble haha