Hand, foot and mouth disease

So after noticing a decent sized red dot on DD's chin yesterday, today DH called me at work saying 'the dummy has to go, she's got massive dribble rash on her chin'. I thought that was odd considering she only has it for a few hours at night time and that's it.

Something this afternoon clicked, and I checked out some Yahoo images of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, and woah, looks like I was on the money. Took a closer inspection of her feet and hands, and yep little, faint red dots were present. Read up on the State's child health website and although it seems she would only have a mild case of it, nothing can be done other than to wait it out.

So, for mumma's with 2 + kids, how do you isolate your kids when one is infectious? In the past (with conjunctivitis) I've been disinfecting things like a mad woman, but it doesnt seem to help. In this case the puss is also contagious, so if DD pushes her head into a pillow (as you do :lol:) trying to hide, is it best just to remove the pillow case and wash / just spray disinfectant or do nothing?? Our house REALLY reeks of Tea Tree at the moment :lol:.

*I'm 20 wks pg and have read there is a slight chance of m/c - this is 'slightly' causing me some concern....*

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease Factsheet - NSW Department of Health

We put towels down in P's cot when she had it so the pus wouldn't get everywhere. I think the risk is more from the pus coming directly from the blisters...it's probably mostly harmless once it's been sitting on something for a few hours.

The whole thing lasted little more than a week and none of us ended up getting it.

Oh nooo!! You poor things!

DD has this 2 weeks ago and it was shocking. I really noticed a pimple like red "dot" under her lip and thought it was from her dummy too. I guess you can only do what you can do with your other kidlet. If they're going to get it, they're going to get it though. Just make keep up your normal hygiene "routine". Try not to drive yourself nuts with it though babe. I am sure you will be fine, just take all the precautions you can. Otherwise I am no real help!

:hugs:

A towel - great thinking (I was quite concerned about whether I should change the sheets daily or not?). Cheers hun!

Most adults have immunity so you should be ok but maybe get DH to change all the sheets and do bath time etc. However, if he is anything like my DP then he will be one of the only adults in the world who doesn't have immunity and ends up sick for weeks :rolleyes: He had it when I was in 1st trimester with DD2 - I didn't get sick and neither did DD1. Apparently he got it from the kids next door!

I got it from dd1 while pg with dd2. I freaked out thinking it was chicken pox as I didn't have immunity to it. It was uncomfortable but no harm was done to dd2. Dd2 got it while I was pg with ds, but dd1 and I didn't get it. We changed her bedding and pj's everyday. I washed my hands after each nappy change and used the alcohol gel. They get the blisters internally too so be careful with the poo.

:hug: hun, hope it all works out. DD had it this year too & was a bit miserable with it but it didn't seem to last that long. Take care. :hug:

Thanks ladies!

I will get DH to change the bed sheets in the morning, I think DS is getting it too - but no visual signs just yet. DH has alcohol hand cleaners all around the house so we'll actually start using them again whilst we've got this virus in the house me thinks!

xox

It is SO hard to keep it contained. Don't beat yourself up if you can't. There is no infection that makes me tear my hair out more than this one.

Warm soapy water will do the trick, especially if you guys already reek of tea tree! You need to spray and wipe any toys that she handles or sucks. Also, spray and wipe your change mat after every change, as well as the bath - obviously bath them separately. It is really hard work, and it's exhausting. Sounds like your DH will be pretty helpful though, always a good start!

Good luck.

What did I find on the soles of DS' feet this afternoon........*insert mad woman scream here!*

I'm so disappointed, it was their first Xmas show at the child care centre this Sunday and I doubt we'll be able to go now :(.

*Cue pregnancy induced hormone tears*

With the ones on the feet...make sure you keep them uncovered. I kept socks on P when she had them on her feet and becuase they are 'wet' type blisters, they got all damp in the socks and turned NASTY and hurt her! So, clean, dry, naked feet is the way to go.

DS1 got hf&m in his first week of daycare, even though no one else in the centre supposedly had it! Fortunately he had a really mild case, just a few spots/teeny blisters on his fingertips and feet. No puss at all. So there wasn't much we needed to do except keep him out of contact with other kids. In our case, the disease sounded far worse than the actual symptoms.
I was very newly pregnant when DS1 had it - prob around 3-4 weeks from memory - and there was no drama with me or bubba #2. I'd think that all you can do is keep up your good hygiene habits. If your DS has it too, hopefully it's a mild case. But unfortunately it does sound like you'll have to give your xmas show a miss - sorry hun.