Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Parents- Can you please give me any and all experiences you have had with this? My son was diagnosed with it over the weekend along with Strep. He hasn't eaten hardly a thing in three days but is luckily drinking plenty of fluids. I know the blisters will heal. It is the ones in his mouth that are causing him the most trouble. What can I do to get him to eat something?

-Nibbles, a very worried mother.

Fortunately, my kids never had that. But, can imagine how uncomfortable he must feel. Poor little fella. :(

I would think anything cold would help, so popsicles and ice cream may help. Might want to try some pedialyte, too.

I would avoid juices or anything with a high acidic content.

Here's a couple of websites with info on the condition, but unfortunately, they don't offer much in the way of suggestions for liquids:

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

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1103.html

this one has a little more info:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000965.htm#Treatment

As long as he doesn't get dehyrated he will be fine. The sores hurt and eating is painful in some cases. While I know it breaks your heart, just keep offering and when his body is ready he will eat. Do you have pediasure or anything along those lines?

Be sure and keep him comfortable with motrin or tylenol and plenty of rest. Fluids and rest are the most important thing during the acute phase.

My daughter lost 10 pounds in kindergarten from repeated strep, it turned out one of her best friends was a carrier or strep but she had no symptoms, so she kept giving it to her over and over until we discovered it.

Also strep can make you incredibly sick to your stomach (thats how we knew she had it not the sore throat). Popsicles are great (fruit or pediasure pops too)

Good luck

Hand foot and mouth? Don't you get that from sheep and cows and stuff? Did you take him to a petting zoo? Or am I thinking something totally different.

Strep sucks. I used to get strep real bad, even as an older teen. Make sure he doesn't get dehydrated. I agree with the popscile thing. Good way to stave off dehydration without it been a total pain to swallow.

I have dealt with this before when I ran a daycare center. Try cold items like suggested, puddings, jello, ect. The most important thing is to keep them hydrated. Good luck, I know it's so stuff when your baby is sick. :(

Thank you soo much everyone for responding. The popsicles is a GREAT idea that I didn't think of. My little guy is such a picky eater anyways he doesn't like ice cream but LOVES popsicles. The main reason I worry is the appitite because he is already skinny as a rail, so he can't afford to lose much weight :(

-Nibbles

Hand foot and mouth? Don't you get that from sheep and cows and stuff? Did you take him to a petting zoo? Or am I thinking something totally different.



No, it's not the same disease. This is info found in the first link I provided for her:

Is HFMD the same as foot-and-mouth disease?

No. HFMD is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease of cattle, sheep, and swine. Although the names are similar, the two diseases are not related at all and are caused by different viruses. For information on foot-and-mouth disease, please visit the web site of the US Department of Agriculture at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/fmd/fmd.html

Hi sweety,

I am not a mommy and I am not familiar with this, but if he is having problem eating, is a good idea to do smoothies. Kids usually love them and if you do it right it can replace a meal (not for a long time of course, we need solid foods)

Here is one recipe, if you think he would try.

-6 strawberries
-1 cup of milk
-1 (6 oz) yogurt of strawberry (favorite brand)
-2 tablespoon of condensed milk (Can also use, Sugar or Splenda)
-10 ice cubs


Put all the ingredients into a blender, blend it for 3 minutes.

Serve in a large glass with a straw.

P.S:If you need any recipe of soups and different smoothies, let me know. I hope you little guy gets better soon.

sending him my good thoughts~





Put all the ingredients into a blender, blend it for 3 minutes.

Serve in a large glass with a straw.

{{{ nibbles }}} I had the same issue with one of my daughters (and she, too, is extreeeeemely slender so, naturally, I also worried about weight). Popsicles, jell-o... these helped.

Avoid soups for a while because they are salty and can hurt going down! But one new thing they have now that wasn't available my daughter had HFMD: natural fruit flavoured waters! Plus, I don't know if your son is like my daughter but, while she doesn't care for ice cream, she does like certain flavours of milk shakes... so maybe you could get some nutrition in his system that way.

Last but not least, breathe slowly and repeat after me:

This too shall pass
This too shall pass
This too shall pass

:o

Thank you soo much everyone for responding. The popsicles is a GREAT idea that I didn't think of. My little guy is such a picky eater anyways he doesn't like ice cream but LOVES popsicles. The main reason I worry is the appitite because he is already skinny as a rail, so he can't afford to lose much weight :(

-Nibbles

Pedialyte pops are actually freezies, I suggest those as listed above, over regular popsicles. Also, Jello is a great idea since it's probably 97% water.

I don't know how old he is but if you can get him to gnaw on a breadstick or even some pretzel sticks gooped with liverwurst (tastes great, really!) then at least he's getting something into him.

Poor little guy. :(

Yikes!

I'm sorry to hear about your son. :(

I don't know anything about it...but when I had pneumonia I couldn't eat anything for about 3 weeks cuz I hurt sooo bad...

But I lived for Popcicles.

The best kind are those ones you get in a box of 100....usually during the summer...I think they're called Pop-Ice or something like that. They're not on a stick...but in like a tube..hang on...there's some in the freezer...I'll check the name...

K...back.

The ones we have are called Fla-Vor-Ice.

They won't help with nutrition...but because they're just basically sugar water with food coloring and a tiny bit of flavoring...he can pretty much eat as many as he wants...and they're great on sore throats.

Nadine.

You can try Ensure....they have several flavors now. My grandmother was over 100, and would barely eat, but she would drink some of these if we insisted. For my daughter, who was 4'10 and only 63 pounds...well, she hated them plain, but if I added ice cream and turned it into a milkshake, she would drink some.

Pedialyte is great if hes not eating..t heir are new ones that actually have the vitamins of Vegtables..> I give them to my son because he doesn't eat alot of veggies.. He wont' eat them so I trick him LOL

but make sure you keep giving Pedialyte so he doesn't dehydrate and his electrolites stay where they should!!

Definatly listen to Kat!! She knows this med stuff!!

Thank you everyone for the great advice. I pick him up tonight and am off for the next couple of days. He has been with his dad for the past couple of nights so ofcourse I am sick with worry more than normal. I know he will be fine, really I do. I am so happy to have all you wonderful people here giving me such great advice! and more than anything a boost of loving confidence!

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!!!