Foot and Mouth???

I just want to tell you - I feel your pain!! My husband and I took our then 10 month old son on a LONG trip to Colorado and after two days of traveling my son started screaming during the night, getting sores on the ends of his fingers and on the inside of his mouth, and throwing up all food (probably because the sores ran down the inside of his throat). We were staying at 8500 feet in the wilderness with not one doctor around and when I called mine back in Roseville they suggested we bring him in (yea, right!) because they have to diagnose him. So I called an old friend in the nearest town and called her doc and he said they couldn't see him because he wasn't a patient of theirs. I did have internet access however and just started researching. I figured it had to be hand, foot and mouth disease and it's a virus - sometimes passed along via feces (yuck!), which would also explain how we picked it up traveling or on a diaper changing table (our car was too full to change in) and has to run it's course, unfortunately. I was told it would take over 3 weeks to be rid of it and nothing really helps. Then to top things off, my husband got it! They say adults don't tend to get it, but he did.... and once an adult can explain how uncomfortable it is, poor things.... anyway, my husband ended up taking a week off from work once we got back from driving another 2 days (and that's 12 hours each day) back to Cali. Oh, the joys of motherhood....
My husband would tell me when he took a shower it would hurt more, because the water hitting the sores would be painful. It felt to him as if he'd been "working in a field all day". But the good news is it will run it's course. I would say if the sores have lasted longer than 2 weeks definately go and see a doc, at least they can put your fears to rest, and with a weak immune system that may be what you need to do.
I don't know what help this is, if any, probably none! But good luck, always remember... "and this too shall pass"
God Bless

my daughter has the same thing it is all over her bottom and her mouth. she has had it for over 5 months now and there is really nothing that will get rid of it. it has to run its course. our doctor told us it could last anywhere from a few weeks up to 18 months. he just recomened that we use neosporin or hydrocortizone to help with the itching and to make sure she is constantly washing her hands. oh yeah the other thing they told us was to limit bath time and even cut it out if possible that the hot water can spread it (that was how my daughter got it on her bottom). they suggested shower every other day. hope this help and i will be watching to see if any other moms have some advice that i have not tried yet as well.

My daughter caught it three times in daycare. I was so mad. No one else at day care had owned up that their kid had it. That was the only place my child went....day care and home. Yes, it is possible there are several hundred coxsackieviruses and you can get it more than once.

It just has to run its course. I didn't wash it often, just usual bathing. We gave her Motrin, used Ora-jel, and as much liquids as she would take, which was minimal.

Then I got it. OMG! The pain was unbelievable. I don't know how my child dealt with it.

Keep them comfy and busy as possible. Engaged children tend to forget about their ills, at least for a little while.

Stephanie

Hi T... this is L. Medina... (different from L. M below.. I just realized there are two of us using L. M.. I will now use L. Medina.. anyway ) here is a link about this disease....

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm#1

note that it is a virus in the body that then erupts externally.

I am a nutritional consultant and work with children.. and use a product called Natural Cellular Defense.. which info can be found at www.liquidzeolite.org and the product itself at www.mywaiora.com/787149.

This product removes toxins from the body in a very unique way.. the ingredient called clinoptilolite which is a zeolite.. has GRAS - Generally recognized as safe.. status by the FDA and has the ability to move passively through the body/ lymphatiac system including passing the blood/brain barrier... safely.. it is 100% in and out of the body in 4-6 hrs respectively. There is significant research on this product which has been accepted into the Medical Journal for publication.

In addition to lowering body burden, it has the ability to collect viral particles from the body before they come back together to form an active virus. Virus' tend to hide in the body and have to duplicate each part to become active.

In addition , removing heavy metals, carcinogens, pesticides, nitrates.. from the body lowers the body burden and the stress on the immune system.

I believe this product would be of great benefit to your children for many reasons per above. I would encourage you to watch a 10 minute documentary which is helping moms understand what we are up against with respect to toxicity and body burden. The environmental working group...
www.ewg.org. has done some phenominal work to help us understand the needs of our children.

Please watch... www.sharethecause.com/live

I would be happy to help you if you so desire..
you can reach me via this email or directly at
____@____.com global.net...

Take Care.. L. Medina ###-###-####

Ask your pediatrician about zinc ointment. I know this helps dry up cold sores, but I don't know if these are similar. Would other treatments for cold sores work on the ones around the mouth? Check with your doctor. I believe you want these to dry out. Avoid acidic drinks (like orange juice). Maybe break up popsicles for them to eat. Good luck

I think that the main reason the sores are so bad because of you bathing them twice a day won't help. I think maybe it can make it worst. What kind of sores are you talking about? Is it chicken pox or some kind of rash? If this concern you, please take your kids to see pediatrician. It may be some kind of rash that needs intensive treatment. There are so many different types of rash or sores out there and it is best if you take them to a dr to check it out. It is better to be safe than be sorry. I hope your kids get better and good luck.

My daughter had this when we were on vacation last year. The doctor said to give her liquid Benadryl and Maalox. I do not remember the ratio...call your doctor. But this helps numb the pain in the mouth. Also we were told to give Tylenol. This all seemed to work. It took awhile to get rid of it (7 + days?), but the doctor said to keep her busy...to keep her mind off of it. Which we did because we were on vacation. Hope this helps!

My friend and I took our kids to the fair when they were three and they both got it, then my friend got it. Truly miserable for all involved.

Baths tended to make it worse even though this seemed counter intuitive. My son had them down his throat and liked cooler beverages so I made him fruit smoothies with yogurt. This is what he lived on--easy to swallow.

Our kids also both had very high fevers so we alternated Tylenol and Motrin which helped with the pain.

My friend and my son got it between their toes and felt better without shoes. It all lasted about 7 days, the most uncomfortable days were the first four or so.

Good luck. This too shall pass.