Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: A Common Condition With Babies & Toddlers
Causes, Treatments, and How Parents Can Prevent It
Like most parents, you will most undoubtedly want to rush your child to the doctor when hand, foot and mouth disease first appears. This won't do much for the tyke, unfortunately. Like a stomach bug, it simply has to run its course. In the meantime, try to help your child be as comfortable as possible-they will need a lot of love and attention. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help to ease the fever and pain until the condition subsides.
The only time a serious complication could arise is if the symptoms get in the way of basic needs, such as eating. Your baby or toddler may reject their feedings because their mouth or throat is so sore. In that case, be careful that he/she doesn't become dehydrated. Watch how often they are wetting their diapers. If a fever rises above 103 F, take your child to the doctor, as there may be another condition developing.
Children in daycare or preschool are especially susceptible to catching this illness. It is a highly contagious, viral condition that is spread through coughing and sneezing. Unfortunately, a child is most contagious before they begin to exhibit any symptoms. As a result, a child could spread it unknowingly amongst his peers or siblings. Adults do not suffer from hand, foot, and mouth disease like children, although they may feel a bit under the weather if exposed. Pregnant women should avoid all contact with the disease.
Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease last for about 7-10 days. During this time, a child should remain out of school or daycare so that they do not expose any more children. Although most common in summer and fall, it could occur at anytime of year. Once a child is exposed to the virus, incubation takes about 3-6 days. From there, it is just a waiting game, but keep in mind that your child is in no serious danger.
Published by Dinah Laurel
Dinah Laurel is a freelance writer who specializes in online content development. View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentI have a one year old and he suffers with HFMD for about 5 months only on his feet. he seems to be pain free but he stills not fully walking yet. I truly don't know what to do. It wont go away gettin ready to enter our 6th month. any suggestions?
I an 48 years old and have had HFMD 4 times in the last 16 months i have just been and had blood tests today as my doctor said it is something you should never get more than once let alone 4 time,and it is meant to be contagious but none of my friends and family have ever caught it,all i know is that it is so painful my mouth and lips are just 1 big blister and i have the spots on my hands, feet ,arms and down below,it has also been suggested that it may be shingles lets just hope the blood tests come back with some answers.
I am 27 years old - and this is the third time that I've caught this. Have no idea how this keeps happening. I constantly wash my hands. I just really don't understand. I just know that this is the most painful disease. My mouth is covered with blisters. They are on both the soles of my feet and all over my hands. They have even traveled up my arms and legs a bit. Does anyone have a clue why this would be reoccuring. I was told people rarely get this twice.
I'm just going to say my own personal experience- I was 7 mos. pg with my son and my daughter had HFMD and we all turned out just fine and my doc never even warned me to stay away from her or the disease. I guess everyone is different and it all depends on your immune system and how strong it is.
I just found out that I was pregnant and my doctor warned me to avoid contact with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. I worked in the daycare in the past and have been exposed to HFM by many children, not when I've been pregnant though. My 10 yr old had it when he was two. i thought I had not been exposed to the latest outbreak but i have been. 2 kids in the kindergarten classroom at the school have contracted the virus and that's the class i work in. This is not the only article that states that pregnant women should avoid all contact with HFM disease. I worked in our daycare and depending on the severity of the child's rash and their ability to participate in the daycare schedule, many children are excluded because of how the child feels. Being contagious is not the only concern when dealing with hand foot and mouth.
hiya am frm waki nd i jast wnted 2
Also, regarding exclusion from school:
CDC has no specific recommendations regarding the exclusion of children with HFMD from child care programs, schools, or other group settings. Children are often excluded from group settings during the first few days of the illness, which may reduce the spread of infection, but will not completely interrupt it. Exclusion of ill persons may not prevent additional cases since the virus may be excreted for weeks after the symptoms have disappeared. Also, some persons excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms. Some benefit may be gained, however, by excluding children who have blisters in their mouths and drool or who have weeping lesions on their hands.
From the CDC:
What are the risks to pregnant women exposed to children with HFMD?
Because enteroviruses, including those causing HFMD, are very common, pregnant women are frequently exposed to them, especially during summer and fall months. As for any other adults, the risk of infection is higher for pregnant women who do not have antibodies from earlier exposures to these viruses, and who are exposed to young children - the primary spreaders of enteroviruses.
Most enterovirus infections during pregnancy cause mild or no illness in the mother. Although the available information is limited, currently there is no clear evidence that maternal enteroviral infection causes adverse outcomes of pregnancy such as abortion, stillbirth, or congenital defects. However, mothers infected shortly before delivery may pass the virus to the newborn. Babies born to mothers who have symptoms of enteroviral illness around the time of delivery are more likely to be infected. Most newborns infected w
Thank you for clearing that up, Yvonne, and I'm so sorry for your loss. I should have been more detailed with this article, I see that now. :(
I am a 29 year old male and get recurring hand, foot, and mouth disease. I have had hand, foot, and mouth disease at least 7 or 8 times. The first time when I was 19. Any explaination.