Hand Foot Mouth disease??

[npmommie]

my 7 yo has a rash across his butt, raised red bumps, he has a couple of the sores in his mouth, but his hands and feet are pretty clear, one spot on his hand, and one spot on one foot.
no sore throat, no fever, no swollen lymph nodes. he has not felt sick.
do you think this could be hand foot mouth? its not the classic presentation.
I ruled out any reaction to soap detergent etc, have not used anything different.

I am not one to rush off to the pedi right away so I was wondering if anyone else's child had this but didn't have all the classic symptoms.

he has no rash anywhere else.
thoughts?

 

[mjkacmom]

It doesn't sound like it - my kids always had fevers and were lethargic. Even if it is that virus, there is nothing a pediatrician can do for anything viral. I only drag mine in when they might need antibiotics (sore throat/fever might be strep, or if they have an earache longer than 3 days).

 

[npmommie]

It doesn't sound like it - my kids always had fevers and were lethargic. Even if it is that virus, there is nothing a pediatrician can do for anything viral. I only drag mine in when they might need antibiotics (sore throat/fever might be strep, or if they have an earache longer than 3 days).

that is what is weird, he has not been sick, feels perfectly fine. hasn't had a fever, unless it has been so low grade I didn't even notice and he hasn't complained about anything, only the sores in his mouth.
and I am the same way, I only go to the Pedi if there is something they can do, like if the kids need antibiotics. ( which I still wait things out cuz I don't jump on those either)

 

[minkydog]

Wouldn't be surprised if this were HFM. It's not textbook, but then, kids rarely are. When Christian had it he had a low grade fever (99 something) dots between his fingers& on one foot, a few dots on his bottom and one sore in the corner of his mouth. Thank goodness, because the painful mouth ulcers are the WORST. You may see a few more "bloom" this afternoon. It's a virus, so just tylenol & fluids. About all you can do for it.

 

[npmommie]

Wouldn't be surprised if this were HFM. It's not textbook, but then, kids rarely are. When Christian had it he had a low grade fever (99 something) dots between his fingers& on one foot, a few dots on his bottom and one sore in the corner of his mouth. Thank goodness, because the painful mouth ulcers are the WORST. You may see a few more "bloom" this afternoon. It's a virus, so just tylenol & fluids. About all you can do for it.

so true

yep some bloomed from yesterday!

he is drinking and eating ok so far, I hope no more appear in his mouth!

 

[npmommie]

ugg, I am torn, he wants to go to his gymnastics class this afternoon, IF, big if this is HFM I know its very contagious, but I don't know for sure,
he is not sneezy, or coughing or runny at all.

 

[sbell111]

Given that you don't know what it is so you don't know how contagious it is, you probably shouldn't let him go. What's the downside of taking him to the doctor and obtaining an actual diagnosis and treatment plan?

 

[mjkacmom]

Given that you don't know what it is so you don't know how contagious it is, you probably shouldn't let him go. What's the downside of taking him to the doctor and obtaining an actual diagnosis and treatment plan?

Well, although I might keep him home, I'm certainly not bring a child to the germy pediatrician, pay a $25 co-pay, to be told my child has a virus, and to wait it out.

 

[minkydog]

Well, although I might keep him home, I'm certainly not bring a child to the germy pediatrician, pay a $25 co-pay, to be told my child has a virus, and to wait it out.

I agree with you. I'd probably skip the gymnastics class--the other moms will thank you for it. THere's nothing the ped can do for HFM, might as well treat him yourself.