Dis'ers..I need you! Case of Hand, Foot, Mouth disease

[Mom2Four]

OK all you moms (and dads) out there. We are supposed to leave for a quick four night trip this Saturday with our daughters Molly, who is ten, and Lily, 18 months old. Well, on Sunday Lily had a low grade fever and wasn't her usual self. Crying, clingy, not eating, ect. She kept pointing to her mouth and crying. I chalked it up to a sore throat since Molly and myself had one a few days prior.
Today Lily was crying and I noticed a bunch of little blister like sores on her tongue. Put in a call to the pediatrician......Hand, foot and mouth disease. The poor baby is in misery. The doc assured us that she is not contagious, but may have these symptoms for 3-7 days. She will not eat and is just inconsolable. My heart breaks for her.
Question..............has anyone had any kind of experience with this?? I never have and am wondering if I should change our plans or hope that she will be better by Saturday morning. Any advice/experience would be SUPER appreciated. Thanks all!!!!!

 

[lucifie]

We were lucky that she didn't get any blisters inside her mouth. She actually felt the worst before the spots appeared. The bottoms of her feet were the worst. She was feeling better within a few days. It's been over 2 weeks and she still has a couple of spots.

I wouldn't cancel your plans, but be sure you take plenty of Tylenol or Motrin.

Oh, and I've heard that if you mix equal parts Benadryl and Maalox it's good for the mouth sores.

 

[Mom2Four]

thank you sooo much for your reply. I am so glad your little one feels better. This is just awful......

 

[Mom2six]

I'm sorry that your little one is sick! You say that she is not eating - what about drinking? Is she drinking consistently to keep hydrated, especially with being ill? I know how hard it is to get them to drink with a sore mouth or throat. I'm sure she will be feeling so much better by this weekend, but I would make sure she was drinking normally before taking her far from home. My son took longer getting over it and wouldn't drink well - he never does if his mouth/throat is sore, so that was a real problem for us as not getting enough fluids just makes them sicker!

 

[Mom2Four]

thank you!! Yes she is drinking......thank goodness!!! I think the cold water makes her feel better. She just wakes up from a sound sleep and points to her mouth and cries!! I am soooo not used to this as she was a breast fed baby who was NEVER sick and now this!! I am feeling like I should change our plans......but of course then you know she will be fine Friday evening!!!

 

[Missy13d69]

I'm wondering why your doctor told you that Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease isn't contagious. It is HIGHLY contagious. It's really not a good idea to go to Disney until she's over it.

I guess technically the CDC considers it a "moderate" contagion, but it can be spread through the air by coughing and sneezing...That doesn't seem "moderate" to me.

 

[livndisney]

http://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/transmission.html

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread from person to person by direct contact with the infectious viruses that cause this disease. These viruses are found in the nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus), fluid in blisters, and stool of infected persons. The viruses may be spread when infected persons touch objects and surfaces that are then touched by others.

Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness. The viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease can remain in the body for weeks after a person’s symptoms have gone away. This means that infected people can still pass the infection to others even though they may appear well. Also, some people who are infected and shedding the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

 

[Mom2Four]

My doctor did not tell me that the HFM disease is not contagious...she told me that once the sores appear the child is not contagious to anyone else. I am well aware that HFM IS contagious, otherwise MY child would not have it. The first thing my doctor said when I called was "keep her home from day care>" My baby does not go to day care as i am a stay at home mom. I really do not need people telling me the Center for Disease Control stats.....I couldve looked that up on my own. All I was looking for was some advice from parents whose little ones have had this.

 

[VeeHam]

I too have heard that a mixture of Benadryl and Mylanta helps. I would ask the doctor for a dosage though.
Poor baby. I hope she gets better quickly.

 

[DopeyDame]

DS has had it a few times - it's miserable!
Our doctor suggested popcicles - the cold should help his throat/mouth feel better and it helps get some fluids down there. Like others have said, there's not much you can do other than motrin and wait it out. Fortunately, it was only 2 or 3 days of misery for DS.
Out doc said what yours did - once he has symptoms, the highest risk of contagion has already passed. I wouldn't worry about traveling on Saturday. He should be turning the corner by then.
Good luck!

 

[livndisney]

My doctor did not tell me that the HFM disease is not contagious...she told me that once the sores appear the child is not contagious to anyone else. I am well aware that HFM IS contagious, otherwise MY child would not have it. The first thing my doctor said when I called was "keep her home from day care>" My baby does not go to day care as i am a stay at home mom. I really do not need people telling me the Center for Disease Control stats.....I couldve looked that up on my own. All I was looking for was some advice from parents whose little ones have had this.

WOW, guess sharing what I have learned was not what you wanted to hear. Hope you get advice you like.

From original post "The doc assured us that she is not contagious, but may have these symptoms for 3-7 days."

 

[MSSANDRA]

My biggest concern would be your 10 year old getting it while you are there. My nephew who is a senior in high school just got over it and he was VERY sick. He ate nothing but ice pops for a full week. He lost 10 pounds and almost ended up in the ER AFTER his doctor visit. Older kids tend to get it much worse. Now I would not consider not going because she MIGHT get it , but it is at least something to think about as you plan. Prayers for healthy babies!

 

[Missy13d69]

My doctor did not tell me that the HFM disease is not contagious...she told me that once the sores appear the child is not contagious to anyone else. I am well aware that HFM IS contagious, otherwise MY child would not have it. The first thing my doctor said when I called was "keep her home from day care>" My baby does not go to day care as i am a stay at home mom. I really do not need people telling me the Center for Disease Control stats.....I couldve looked that up on my own. All I was looking for was some advice from parents whose little ones have had this.

So sorry that I misread what you said in the original post, but in all fairness you didn't quite make it clear what your doctor said. At any rate, what your doctor told you still was not accurate. I didn't think someone would get so offended by being offered non-insulting accurate information. I do apologize.

 

[Mom2Four]

WOW, guess sharing what I have learned was not what you wanted to hear. Hope you get advice you like.

From original post "The doc assured us that she is not contagious, but may have these symptoms for 3-7 days."

SHE (meaning MY daughter), not Hand, Foot and Mouth disease> I am not looking for advice that I like, just others experiences with this specific problem. Thanks for you help though

 

[Sugar Jones]

It's going around here like crazy right now. Poor thing .

I would stick with Popsicles, frozen yogurt pops, ice cream, frozen grapes (cut up so no choking hazard). Frozen blueberries. Jello maybe?

I'd give her dome Tylenol for pain as well. Hopefully she's feeling better by the time you leave.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Also wanted to ad that when my kids had it they felt better after about 5 days after I realized what they had. None if them had a fever or actually felt sick, just the uncomfortable sores.

 

[Mom2Four]

DS has had it a few times - it's miserable!
Our doctor suggested popcicles - the cold should help his throat/mouth feel better and it helps get some fluids down there. Like others have said, there's not much you can do other than motrin and wait it out. Fortunately, it was only 2 or 3 days of misery for DS.
Out doc said what yours did - once he has symptoms, the highest risk of contagion has already passed. I wouldn't worry about traveling on Saturday. He should be turning the corner by then.
Good luck!

Thank you!!!! Oh no....a few times! Yikes!

 

[Mom2Four]

WOW, guess sharing what I have learned was not what you wanted to hear. Hope you get advice you like.

From original post "The doc assured us that she is not contagious, but may have these symptoms for 3-7 days."

SHE. Not the HFM disease

 

[Mom2Four]

Also wanted to ad that when my kids had it they felt better after about 5 days after I realized what they had. None if them had a fever or actually felt sick, just the uncomfortable sores.

Isn't it crazy? I just thought it was a sore throat until I saw the sores!

 

[Mom2Four]

DS has had it a few times - it's miserable!
Our doctor suggested popcicles - the cold should help his throat/mouth feel better and it helps get some fluids down there. Like others have said, there's not much you can do other than motrin and wait it out. Fortunately, it was only 2 or 3 days of misery for DS.
Out doc said what yours did - once he has symptoms, the highest risk of contagion has already passed. I wouldn't worry about traveling on Saturday. He should be turning the corner by then.
Good luck!

thank you for the advice!!