Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Last month, Balqis was infected with HFMD viral from her nanny’s house. Not sure the virus came from either from one of the children or the neighbors infected children. But the virus spread so fast. First I had notice was red rashes, itchy (she was complaining “atai” (gatal) appear at buttocks area (19^th July 2010). Then the next day (20^th July 2010), she’s crying while pooping. In my mind, thinking… “tak kan nanny nie tak perasan anak aku berak dan tak tukar lampin anak aku sampai merah-merah…, tak kan tak sempat nak tukar sb ada budak demam. Abis nak biar anak aku plak sakit?” Pelik jugak… Next day (21^st July 2010), one of the boys had high fever and muntah-muntah with rashes all over body. Her mom called me and informed her child could be infected by HFMD and she was on the way to see pediatrician. If it was confirmed she will ring me and I had to take Balqis home for precaution. Takut berjangkit… Then I had my phone ring, and to my worries… it was confirmed and that boy should be warded coz of dehydration. I took time-off since it’s already 5.00pm. Rush to nanny’s house hopping Balqis still not infected. When I arrive and see Balqis… I knew I was too late to protected her from infected, because of red blister rash had appear around her mouth and hands. Well at least I knew early before it gets worse. I quickly went back home and bring her to see doctor for medication and some advice to take care of her. Instead of the advice from doctor, I also search the internet for supporting info. I have gone trough few websites:

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/DS00599/DSECTION=symptoms

2. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hand_foot_mouth_disease/symptoms.htm

3. http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=310

4. http://www.babycenter.com/0_hand-foot-and-mouth-disease_1614.bc?page=2

The virus infection was spread fast. That day all the children there, was infected by HFMD. From this day (22^nd July 2010) onwards I was on EL (emergency leave) for 5 days. During those days, I tried my best to make sure her fever doesn’t hike up, she drinks a lot of water to her body, feeds her with all sot of cold foods, such as barli, halwa kundur, lai chee kang and more, making sure she eats although her mouth and throat are full with ulcers (cian anak aku). What I did to help her fight this virus was, sapu all over her body with calamine lotion to ease itchiness, sapu her mouth with ubat kebas mulut tu to make sure she can eat & has enough energy by making sure she can eat and play with her in make sure she eats, drinks, energetic and controlled her temperature. The other are depends to her body to fight the virus back.

Here I attached an article from Babycentre.com as information and guidance for all.

What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a fairly common viral illness in children. (HFMD is not the same as foot-and-mouth disease, also called hoof-and-mouth disease, which affects animals.)

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HFMD most often occurs in preschoolers, although adults and children of any age can get it. Most adults have developed antibodies against it from previous exposure. HFMD most often shows up in the summer and fall.

HFMD can be caused by any of a number of viruses, most commonly the coxsackie virus. Although in very rare cases HFMD can lead to viral meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), children usually recover just fine, without treatment, in a week to ten days.

What are the symptoms?

If your baby contracts HFMD, he'll first have a mild fever. You may notice that his appetite isn't what it usually is. He may also have a sore throat and feel lousy in general.

A day or two after the fever starts, your baby will develop painful sores in his mouth — on his tongue, gums, or the inside of his cheeks. This will likely make him irritable.

Your child may also develop a rash on the palms of his hands, the soles of his feet, and maybe his buttocks. The rash, which isn't itchy, starts out as small, flat, red dots that may turn into bumps or blisters.

Is HFMD contagious?

Yes, the virus can be transmitted through nose and throat secretions, the fluid in the blisters, or stool. While your baby will be most contagious during the week he first shows symptoms, the virus can be transmitted for weeks afterward.

If your baby usually goes to daycare, check with the staff about the attendance policy. They may want you to keep your child home until his symptoms are gone or even longer.

Should I call the doctor?

Yes. Although your baby's doctor won't be able to do much, she can make recommendations for fever and pain relief. And if you're not sure that HFMD is what you're dealing with, the doctor can confirm it by taking a look.

If your baby is under 3 months and his rectal temperature reaches 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, call the doctor immediately. (A baby this young with a fever needs to be watched carefully.)

If your baby is at least 3 months old, talk with his doctor about when she'd like you to call. She may suggest that you call if your baby's temperature reaches 101 degrees F or higher, or, once he's 6 months old, when his fever reaches 103 degrees F.

One thing your doctor will be watching for is dehydration, because the mouth sores may make it difficult for your baby to drink anything. If your baby shows any signs of dehydration — such as a dry, parched mouth or going six hours or more without wetting his diaper — call his doctor immediately.

How should I care for my baby while he's sick with HFMD?

If your baby has a relatively mild case of this illness, you won't have to do much beyond watching his temperature and making sure he's taking in enough liquids and food. If your baby gets a bad case of HFMD, though, he can be really miserable. Be prepared to do plenty of soothing in addition to pushing the liquids.

If your baby is eating solid foods, avoid giving him anything salty, spicy, or acidic while his mouth hurts. Soft foods will be easiest for him to handle, too.

Cold drinks, ice cream, and ice pops may ease the pain, as will the proper dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if your doctor okays it. (Never give a child aspirin. It can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.)

One way to temporarily ease the pain is to dip a cotton swab in a one-to-one mixture of a liquid antacid (such as Maalox or Mylanta) and liquid children's antihistamine (such as Benadryl), and gently coat the inside of your baby's mouth with the solution. The combination of these two over-the-counter medicines will coat and soothe the sores. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend adding a prescription medicine to the mix.

Can my baby get HFMD more than once? How can I prevent it?

Your baby can come down with HFMD again. As with colds, your child will develop immunity to the specific virus that made him sick, but there are many viral strains that can cause the illness.

Take precautions such as washing your baby's hands regularly, washing and disinfecting toys and other objects that might have germs on them, and trying to avoid infected children. Still, it's impossible to guarantee that your child won't catch the illness if he's exposed to an infected person.

What if I'm pregnant when my child comes down with the illness? Is the baby I'm carrying at risk?

If you're exposed to HFMD when you're pregnant, the chance that your fetus will be affected is very small, but you should mention it to your ob-gyn. Wash your hands frequently after changing diapers or tending to your sick child's needs. You might also want to consider wearing gloves to keep your risk to a minimum.

Article from: http://www.babycenter.com/0_hand-foot-and-mouth-disease