Coxsackie? (HFMD)

[Desnik]

Anyone have kids who have had this? I noticed a few red spots on DD(8) last night. Brought her to the Dr today and they told me she has coxsackie. She doesn't have a fever, but has the soars/blisters in her throat, mouth and red spots on her chest, butt, and stomach. I'm trying to do some research online. It seems we just have to let it run it's course. I'm just nervous that DS(3) will get it. Just curious how contagious is it, how long will this last? I just wanted to hear what others have experienced with this?
Thanks for any info!

 

[Pooh Crew]

From what I understand, HFMD in children is usually nothing to worry about. I think it can be painful for adults and dangerous for pregnant women, but I think the rash is really all that happens to kids. A friend's son had it and had some joint pain and stiffness (could not open his hands after sleeping), but the dr told her to just use tylenol to help ease the pain and that it would go away. My kids all had it, but all I remember is the rash so it must not have been bad.

 

[clarabelle]

Both of mine had it. It is usually called Hand,Foot and mouth disease.
It is very common and not usually serious. I think in rare cases it can be.
Use good handwashing techinques.
I read it was contagious by contact for a 7-10 days -but is unpredictable.
I would get some lysol for surfaces as well (it can live on those too)
If her mouth is painful try jello
good luck

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Also known as Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. My girls both had it several years ago. And supposedly once you have it you can't get it again. Well, I don't believe it, I caught it from DD who was still breast feeding. I was miserable, I think worse than the kids were. I hope you are ok and your DS.

 

[fabumouse]

My DD had this when she was 3. It is VERY contagious. She had it on her palms, soles, throat, everywhere. She couldn't walk because it hurt so much and I took her to the doctor and insisted on a prescription medicine that would help with the pain and help her sleep. I don't know how it affects "most" kids, but I do know that it took over a week to start clearing up and I felt terrible for her. She couldn't swallow *water* without pain.

 

[ohiominnie]

Yup, it is viral, which means it has to run it's course. And it is pretty contagious, so it's likely your ds will get it too....but again, no real treatment for it.

Treat fevers with tylenol or motrin. Just make sure they stay hydrated. When the mouth sores are really bad push fluids but don't worry about eating foods if they don't want to. I remember there was some sort of slurry that we made once for dd when she had it bad....I want to say it was a 50:50 concoction of something like benadryl and mylanta that was a swish and SPIT, (don't swallow) If things get terrible and you can't get the fluids in, call your pediatrician and see if they've done this. It's been about 8 yrs since we've had it bad here, but occasionally we do have the mouth sores and we always blame it on HFMD.

 

[pennst8r]

Contagious all right! Also known as Hand-Foot and Mouth disease. My one son had when he was a toddler, but he had a high fever with it. It also stays in the, ah, let's say intestines for a few months. That's why bad bathroom habits pass it around--someone who didn't wash well touches things, then your kid touches something they did. Voila! It's most contagious during the first few days, if I remember correctly..saliva, etc. I remember I had to throw away the binkie!

It is painful in the mouth, so popsicles, etc. It does run it's course, but it's frustrating.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

All three of my kids had it last summer at different times One was worse than the other in terms of discomfort. We manged to get thru it though. I'm pretty sure they caught it from the kiddie pool at the pool club. God only knows what goes on in there.

 

[thewishfire]

I have it and I'm 19! I'm just getting better now.. I've been sick for almost a week. I cought it from my little cousins. I can say that yes, as someone said, it certainly is painful for adults. Ahhh, this will teach me that when a 2 year old asks if you want to share her lollipop, the answer is "no"!

 

[katerkat]

My son had it earlier this month - we ended up at the ER with an IV because he got dehydrated because he wouldn't swallow. For the mouth sores, try one part liquid benadryl and one part Maalox. (We had a prescription that included a third part, Lidocaine.) Swish in the mouth, do NOT swallow, every 2-4 hours.

 

[MinnieFan]

My DD, now 8, got this when she was 2 on our first trip to WDW. She was miserable with the mouth sores - we ended our trip early because she wasn't feeling well, and DS started to come down with it as well. We drove down and back from NY on that trip, and poor DD cried from North Carolina all the way to our front door. I came down with it when we got home, but DH never got it. It wasn't fun for any of us, that's for sure.

The Mylanta-Benadryl solution that others have mentioned works really well, if only temporarily.

 

[ohiominnie]

My son had it earlier this month - we ended up at the ER with an IV because he got dehydrated because he wouldn't swallow. For the mouth sores, try one part liquid benadryl and one part Maalox. (We had a prescription that included a third part, Lidocaine.) Swish in the mouth, do NOT swallow, every 2-4 hours.

There ya go!! That's it! Knew it was something like that.

 

[BobbinWeez]

As a teacher in a child care center I've seen it go through a classroom of toddlers like wildfire. It's contagious BEFORE the sores appear. So once the sores appear others around have been exposed. It's just got to run it's course. However you can get it again. Children that I have worked with have had it multiple times.

 

[aprilgail2]

My god daughter used to get that every single summer when she was at summer camp! The big tip off was her horrible breath she got with it from all the mouth sores..it was pretty gross but she was always fine in a few days. It ran around the whole camp in the summer every year.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My oldest son had it when he was two. That was actually how I finally broke him off of the bottle. He had the sores in his mouth and it hurt to suck. I remember he stayed up all night for 2 nights straight crying in pain. The doctor actually gave him Tynenol with codeine to help him sleep and to help me keep my sanity.

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for all the replies!
So, DD is not contagious if she has the sores in her mouth now? So she would've been contagious this past weekend? Great , she was with my mom, and sis and my sisters 3 kids!! So I guess we'll all get it.

thewishfire
I'm so sorry you have it! That really stinks but I couldn't help but chuckle when you wrote "Ahhh, this will teach me that when a 2 year old asks if you want to share her lollipop, the answer is "no"! "
Hope you are feeling better soon!

I'm just trying to figure out how she got it. She hasn't been to camp or swimming.

I'm suppose to have a Pampered Chef party this Sunday. Should I cancel it? Do you think my house is contaminated? I have to laugh about these things, it just hasn't been a good day. I have Lysol and clorox wipes so I'll be sure to wipe all the door handles and such. I'm trying to keep her in one room. Anything else I should be doing? DD says she feels fine, just alittle tired.

 

[FreshTressa]

My son had it earlier this month - we ended up at the ER with an IV because he got dehydrated because he wouldn't swallow. For the mouth sores, try one part liquid benadryl and one part Maalox. (We had a prescription that included a third part, Lidocaine.) Swish in the mouth, do NOT swallow, every 2-4 hours.

Yah..my DS got very dehydrated with it and wound up hospitalized for 24hours. DD had the same thing and breezed through it.

 

[ohiominnie]

Thanks for all the replies!
So, DD is not contagious if she has the sores in her mouth now? So she would've been contagious this past weekend? Great , she was with my mom, and sis and my sisters 3 kids!! So I guess we'll all get it.

You may find this helpful.....

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

 

[taximomfor4]

Very contagious...it follows the fecal-oral route so handwashing is key. You can become immune to one strain, but can catch it again when other strains go around, just like happens with influenzas.

Hope everyone gets better/avoids getting infected with it!

 

[ohiominnie]

Very contagious...it follows the fecal-oral route so handwashing is key. You can become immune to one strain, but can catch it again when other strains go around, just like happens with influenzas.

Hope everyone gets better/avoids getting infected with it!

From the CDC website (emphasis added by me):

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=-1]Is HFMD contagious?[/size][/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=-1]Yes, HFMD is moderately contagious. Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, OR the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.
[/size][/font]