Hand Foot and Mouth

My little girl had this also and yes it is very contagious! He needs to stay away from other kids until he stops running a fever. You shouldn't get it as long as you don't drink after him. No need to wash his sheets everyday or get a new toothbrush for everyday. He will build up antibodies so he will be less likely to get it again. (But just so you know there are several forms of this virus) My daughter has had 2 different strains of it and the hands foot and mouth was the WORSE! You might boil his toothbrush everyday. The maalox/benedryl combo works ok, but it didn't help that much.

The only thing I can recommend is DON'T GET PREGNANT or even try while he has this. Becareful.

Stay home till it is gone. It is not worth spreading it. He will be better in a few days, but please don't epose all of our kids to it also and we will do you the same courtesy by keeping our kids home when they are sick. Just stay home for a few days. Yes, a new toothbrush EVERY day. If you refuse to buy that many toothbrushes, atleast sterilize it by submerging it in boiling water everyday. Yes, wash the bedsheets everyday, again, if you just really don't want to actually wash them everyday, toss them in the dryer on the highest possible heat for 30 minutes. The dryer is actually what kills stuff, not the washer. But personally I would just use new toothbrushes every day and wash the sheets completely. I also would use lysol on pretty much everything from now until 2 full days after he is better. Good luck. I heard it is going around, like I said, let's not keep spreading it. I am so sorry that he has it, that is so miserable!

Hi S.,

We just got over this in our house. My 16 month old son had it, and my husband got it from him. Our pedi told us we wouldn't get it, so was not cautious at all (kissing him, letting him drink after me). I did not get it, my husband did. Weird. It is really contagios, but adults get a lesser form of it.

Hang in there, it went away after a few days. We stayed did not have any contact with other kids for a week after the sores went away. I found it confusing too about how long the contageous period lasts.

Hope this helps some. Stay strong and get plenty of rest!

My pediatrician told me it is contagious until there are no more sores. You will unlikely get it unless you have something like lupus or another immune compromising condition. I just used the mix of maalox and benedryl to swab the inside of his mouth before eating or when he seemed to be in pain. Like any virus, it lasts about a week, but it's really contagious. So bunker down until the sores subside.

Here's info on the condition from the CDC website. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

I hope he recovers quickly!!

Here's what I remember from when my child had it. The doctor said I should already have immunities to the virus and shouldn't be concerned about getting it. He said it's generally preschool aged children who get it because they haven't gotten the virus yet and built up an immunity to it.

I think we chose to keep my child away from other children for about a week, and then were very careful about how she interacted with others until all the blisters were gone (ex: I started taking her swimming but made sure she didn't really touch any of the other children in the pool). I think it takes up to 3 or 4 weeks to run its course. My daughter didn't infect anyone else, and we were super-careful! Be especially careful around babies less than 2 months old - it can be deadly for them.

My kids had this 3-4 times each when they were young. Seems like it was about once a year. Yes it is contagious - not just through saliva. I think for about 5 days as I recall. I found in my research that some are just more susceptible (sp?) than others to it.

Not really a big deal (although the name freaked me out the first time.) This too shall pass.

Sorry to hear about HFMD! What a pain! My son contracted this his FIRST day at the daycare. If it is in his mouth you can mix benadryl and maalox and give him some of that (1 ounce of each mixed and then 1 t, I think) The benadryl helps with inflammation and the maalox coats the sores. It is highly contagious and can last 7-10 days. I think my son had to stay out of daycare for 2 days. Adults can get it, but it shows symptoms somewhat differently than in babies (sore throat). I would get a new toothbrush after the episode is gone or throw his in the dishwasher after he is asymptomatic. He is building immunity to it right now so you won't need to wash it everyday. Same with the bedding. hope this helps. good luck

S.,

My youngest daughter had this and she recovered just fine! I was worried, too, but after talking to my doctor and doing a little research I found that it sounds worse than it really is. I know the poor thing has rashes, mine had hers in her throat! It lasted for a few weeks and there is no evidence of it now. Yes, it is very contagious, but it is also such a common thing that most everyone has either had it or will catch it sometime in their life- it just shows up differently in everyone (most not even knowing that they have it). My doctor said it was fine to be around other kids as long as they aren't sharing cups, also. It has a nasty name, but itself is just something everyone gets, like a cold, except once you catch it you won't get it again.

I also use Eucerine and Aquaphor and think that they are the best for itchy skin and rashes (my other daughter had a severe case of eczema when she was an infant). I know you love him and it's tough to see him suffer, but it will pass and he won't remember it. I hope this helps and good luck!

K.

This is very contagious and I am not sure what ointment you are using, I have never used an ointment for this. I have given my children a 1:1 ratio of their approved dosage of benadryl with Maalox. It coats the mouth and throat so they can eat. Give it about 20 minutes before eating. I think ours lasted a few days. I hope this helps...it is a pain to deal with.

My son, had hand, foot, mouth disease when he was 2YO. We were not allowed at the daycare till his sores/blisters cleared up b/c it is so infectious. I treated him in a similar method with the benadryl and used the Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment (miracle diaper cream!). I would not have your son around other children for about a week or till the blisters/rash are not oozing. I never had the disease and treated my son the whole time. I know it's hard to see your child suffering from this disease -- I think it was mostly gone in a week from my little guy at the time. Best of luck to you guys!

S.,

My son(2 1/2 years old)had this about a year ago and it didn't last too long. The blisters were the worst part. His 4 year old brother did not get it and they share EVERYTHING!!!! The doctor did not seem concerned with the disease and he was able to be around other kids somewhat quickly. My doctor recommended the Aquaphor too since it's like Vaseline and that seemed to help along with the Benadryl/Maalox combo. I wouldn't be too worried and just try and keep him comfortable.

Best of luck to you and your little boy!

A.

My baby got it when he was about 4 months after being handled by loads of relatives over Thanksgiving. The name sounds worse than it usually turns out to be. I think your doctor and the other moms who have responded are all telling you the same thing my pediatrician told me...there isn't a lot they can treat for. You just have to let it run its course. And adults are usually immune but other children are susceptible. But it sounds like he is an only child right now. Just follow the doctors suggestions. We didn't have to worry about changing his bedding or boiling his toys or anything. The doctor said he couldn't reinfect himself. I'm a first time mommy too and it is easy to freak out about an illness with such an awful name but your baby boy will be fine. The doctor told us that it usually goes away in six weeks. Hang in there!

this is a really contagious virus. most likely you will not get it because it is mainly only with toddlers and babies. i would definitely use a different toothbrush and keep him away from other babies until the rash is totally gone. i know its no fun...my son had it and it was awful! but it will pass and you will get back to normal before you know it!

My son had it-- I have no idea where he caught it. Since it's viral and there's no "treatment," you can just ease their discomfort. I was told to use the Maalox for his mouth and throat. If you think Aquaphor does a good job relieving discomfort of the rash, then keep using it. My doc told me to keep him away from other children for a week. That was the hard part--staying home for a week! She said adults can get it as well, but adults don't usually get the full-blown symptoms. She acted like it wasn't a big deal for an adult to get it. Sounds like you are taking the right precautions to make sure you don't get it. If you have additional questions, you can usually call your doc's office and talk to a nurse for free.