Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Both of my daughters have had HFM. This last time around, the second occurance for my almost 4 year old) it lasted around 5 weeks. I don't think that your 15 old is having a second occurance, she my still be having the first occurance just now showing rash on her hands. This is how my almost 4 year olds first occurance went (first her mouth, then her feet, then her hands over a several week progression). Unfortunately there is no treatment because it is viral. However there is a product out there called Sambucol (an anti-viral found at healthfood stores - we bought ours at Whole Foods) which we used that helps your body when being affected by a virus. My girls have a compromised immune system and my doc recommended it and felt that their occurances would have been longer given their health had we not used it. Also, once you have had HFM you will be more susceptable to contracting it again. And, last but certainly not least, HFM is not life threatening in any way to small children (just a bit uncomfortable) but can be fatal to a fetus. So if you have any pregnant friends it is advisable to that your daughter steer clear of them until she has no signs of HFM. Good luck....sorry to hear that you have this at this time of year (it's hard to stay inside or at home in this nice weather) but know that this too shall pass.

38 yr SAHM of 2 beautiful girls (almost 2 and almost 4) and wife of an incredible husband and dad.

My girlfriend's 2 yr old child has hand foot and mouth disease right now. All you can do is keep them comfortable with some tylenol. It's a virus that has to run it's course.

HFM is awful! I have experienced it many times as a day care provider! I would suggest cleaning EVERYTHING! Kids can get it again if it is still on surfaces and the incumbation period is 7-10 days before symptoms show up! I would clean all toys and any surfaces that she can reach! Which I know is alot (I have a 17 month old). This is the only way that we can get rid of it at the day care. If one kid gets it, we clean like there is no tomorrow! LOL! But we rarely, have a second case, because of all the cleaning! I hope this helps!

Did she have a fever before this set of spot showed up? or was the fever within a week of the spots? It could be Roseolla. My daughter just got over this and she too is 15 months. Just thought I would give you another suggestion.

My DD recently had a very mild case and it was running through our playgroup. I am not surprised you could get it more than once, it seems like it may be contagious for a longer period than I was told anyway (48-72 hours). It also seems to show up very different in different people, as far as symptoms are concerned.

I cleaned and sterilized all the toys in the house and tried to be more conscious of cleaning in general to help us get over it quick. My DS (10 months) never got any symptoms!

Good luck

My daughter had HFM back to back in about a 2 month period. It is not rare to get it again since it could be a different strain. Fortunately my daughter didn't have a horrible case the second time, but it's not rare to get it twice.

My son had it three times in a 6 to 8 month period. Not rare to get it more than once. Especially when you visit mall play areas or they ride in the grocery cart at the store. Just need to ride it out and I would make sure and take wipes with me to the store and wipe down the cart handle etc. At that age it is hard to keep things out of there mouths.

Hi
A couple weeks ago we went through the hand foot and mouth. My 6mo old son was very sick! His also started with a fever and then spots in mouth on face a couple on arms and legs and a couple on his hand. also not on the palm. This past monday I had taken him in for is 6mo well chld check and when I took off his clothes I noticed some red spots on his chest. Told the dr about the past couple weeks and he said that some times with viruses (not just HFM) that they can also show symptoms a week or more later. In adults it can take up to 6wks to completly get rid of a bug but children it is usually a week or so. So maybe in your case this is the LAST part of the HFM? I know how frustrating it can be to know that you lil one isnt feeling good and there isnt anything you can do to take away the pain!
Hope all is well
A.

K., I work at a daycare and we have recently had some cases of HFM disease. The children are said to be contagious from a couple of days before the onset of symptoms to a couple of days after. One of the girls I work with said they had reoccurrences at her previous center. If your daughter was around other children that may have been exposed, there is a chance of getting it again, or it just may not have completely run it's course. The good news is that with the exception of a present fever, she should not need to be isolated from other children and the only course of treatment is to treat the fever and the sometimes painful mouth sores if needed. good luck, I hope she's feeling better soon!
C.

I don't normally hear of it being on the back of the hands. Is it inside of the mouth, on the feet? It could be something else look under her arms and on the back of her neck. Could it be chicken pox? If she is in day care and they missed cleaning something it can be possible to get it again.