Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Posted by Adriaticat (473 days ago)

My baby is 10 months old. He developed a fever yesterday and doctor said he's got infected by the Hand Foot Mouth Disease... got ulcers in his throat and he finds it hard to swallow anything and he looks so much in pain. I think he got it from playgroup/ swimming pool...

Has anyone's got this experience before? Anything I can do to relieve his pain?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by Ruth in Canada (473 days ago)

Try baby Motrin/Ibuprofen for the pain and make frozen popsicles with breastmilk or formula.

It's really a nasty illness, but it doesn't last for very long.

Give him cool baths at home and keep him away from other little 'uns as it is pretty infectious.

Hope hge feels better soon!

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by zhuliya (473 days ago)

Don't worry, it isn't so dangerous and infective..my twins of 14 months got it, both of them, two weeks ago when We were on holiday in Italy. We went to the sea and they played on the sand...It endure almost 3 days with fever, not so high. When the fever was 38 and up I give them paracetamol but anything else. No antibiotics. Maybe infant should has pain in his throat (like mines) so I suggest to give him some fresh juice or ice cream to refresh. We still went out and made daily program...just take care of the fever.
It seems very popular in this period...I ear other experience on that.

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by Adriaticat (473 days ago)

Yeah he had fever the whole night and the temperature went up to over 39C. The pedia says it will last for 3 days and the pain will endure a week (he has quite serious ulcers at the throat). He's given Tylenol to control the fever and nothing else. Never tried offering him cold food though... yes he doesn't want his milk any more. How should I make the milk popsicle?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by nasi (473 days ago)

For my sons teething pains I fill an ice lolly device that I bought in the US. This could also work for milk if you can find one in Hong Kong. It is made by Sassy. The base has a handle easy for baby to hold and a gel core to keep loly cold. You fill the mesh bag and snap the cap on, set it in freezer and voila! A frozen pop that baby cannot choke on. You could fill the cap with milk then slip the mesh bag and base into the cap to make the milk pop. Otherwise try freezing the milk in a bowl and shaving pieces off for baby to eat from a spoon.
Good luck hope he feels better soon.

(I am based in Bangkok)

Posted by Germaine WS (473 days ago)

is there an age group where babies/toddlers are more vulnerable to this disease?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by pinkie (472 days ago)

my 8 month old has also been diagnosed with this in hk - the first few days were difficult with fever and he didn't each much so must have been the ulcers in the mouth. don't think there is much you can do to prevent if they socialise with others. dr said even just one or two spots on feet or around mouth are enough to indicate this (they were tiny spots) they can be blisters too.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Sashimi Girl (178 days ago)

sorry to resurrect an old thread but does this disease seem to be going around now? i know of 2 babies who live on my street who have it now and at my baby's playgroup there have been two cases too...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by crj (178 days ago)

I check my kids every night in the bath - hand, feet, bottom and tongue... and we check for fever daily of course (just with my hand, but if in doubt use a thermometer). It has become a game, me checking them, they love it.

Schools in Beijing are closing if they have 3 cases, and most playgroups and other kid activities have stopped.... but we still do everything as normal, since this is a regular disease... the main thing is, if you have symptoms to get to the doctor ASAP.

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by axptguy38 (178 days ago)

"sorry to resurrect an old thread but does this disease seem to be going around now? "

We got a letter from the school a few weeks ago saying that it is indeed going around.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldsllvn (178 days ago)

it is - as it does every May - June apparently - not sure why - our school and our management co sent letter, saying that apparently there are outbreaks pretty much every May - June. It is a pretty regular disease - ours had it last year - am keeping fingers crossed for this year...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by WilliamB (175 days ago)

my 13 month old has what looks like a big insect bite with a red rash around it on her foot..wonder if it might be HFMD. Can anyone describe what it might look like on the feet please? I have checked her mouth but can't see anything and she doesn't appear to have a fever.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldsllvn (174 days ago)

it is should be quite a lot of "insect bites" on both hands and feet - not big tho - quite small... mine did not have anything in their mouths - just hands and feet... a bit of fever too...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by the goddess kali (174 days ago)

crj, jsut few weeks ago there wasa bit scare with the EV71 virus (similar to hand foot and mouth) causing deaths in Anhui province. is there a scare in Beijing as well?

june and july is supposed to be the absolute peak and kids under 6 (i think) are at risk.

A friend's baby got it and recovered, she said from kindergarten.

we avoid letting our 15month old play with kids int he park (so hard to do as he's a very sociable being) and constantly wash his hands with dettol soap.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by axptguy38 (174 days ago)

"we avoid letting our 15month old play with kids int he park (so hard to do as he's a very sociable being) and constantly wash his hands with dettol soap."

If you keep washing his hands with disinfectant his immune system may not have a chance to develop properly. Babies can handle being dirty.


"my 13 month old has what looks like a big insect bite with a red rash around it on her foot..wonder if it might be HFMD."

Might just be a bite. Kids don't know not to scratch their bites so they can easily create the rashes themselves.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by the goddess kali (174 days ago)

i am ALL for my baby developing immunity, but do believe that as a responsible parent it is my responsibilty to shield him from potentially deadly viruses.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by axptguy38 (174 days ago)

"i am ALL for my baby developing immunity, but do believe that as a responsible parent it is my responsibilty to shield him from potentially deadly viruses."

You do what you want of course but you can't really shield him that way.

To shield him effectively from all potentially deadly bugs you would need to keep him in a plastic bubble. He is constantly exposed to a myriad pathogens, many of which are potentially deadly. The bedsheets, living room floor and the air are full of bacteria, spores, pollen and tiny animals. Sometimes you will become sick, but most of the time your body can handle it. Having said that, washing hands before eating and preparing food is of course a good thing.

Many doctors in the US want to ban the sale of antibacterial soaps because they feel that the surviving bugs are becoming stronger and stronger.

The chance of contracting a deadly virus exists. The chance of actually dying from a random virus is vanishingly low.

There is no such thing as 100% safe.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by the goddess kali (174 days ago)

who said anything about plastic bubbles or expecting 100% safety?

chances of dying are vanishingly low? so how about the 30 infant deaths in recent days in Anhui? which FYI are all from a virus related to f&m ? did u know that the spread of the virus is through the oral -fecal route and NOT through air?

doctors want to ban soaps? that's a laugh. they should be banning antibiotic drugs and unnessecary vaccines instead.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by axptguy38 (174 days ago)

"doctors want to ban soaps? that's a laugh. they should be banning antibiotic drugs and unnessecary vaccines instead."

And with that it is clear that we will never agree. My comments stand. Take them as you will.

(I am based in Hong Kong)