Daycare provider told me this afternoon that one of the kids was diagnosed with HFM on Friday. Two other kids were sick Saturday, and two went home with fevers today. Not 10 minutes after we got home tonight, C was fussy and felt warm. He had a low grade fever that quickly became 102.5 within an hour. He now has the beginnings of a rash on his chest, sort of like when he had Rosceola.
If your child has had HFM, how did it present? Did you take them in to the pedi, even though it's viral and there's nothing to do?
In our case, DD came down with a fever on a Friday afternoon. She had like two blisters developing then. We gave her Tylenol and she slept normally. She woke up fever-free and covered in sports on her arms, legs and face. Anyway, she acted pretty much normal from then on, but the blisters took 4-5 days to heal. She was welcome back at daycare the following Tuesday though (it was a holiday weekend so they weren't open on Monday). A bunch of kids there had it. We did go to the pedi on Saturday (we were worried because it was a holiday weekend and we just wanted to make sure it was HFM and not something worse), but they couldn't do anything for her and just confirmed that it looked like HFM, told us that she wasn't super contagious after being fever free for 24 hours other than her poop and to be really good about washing our hands after diaper changes.
We knew DS had it because he got blisters on his feet. We had a well visit scheduled so the dr confirmed it was HFM. He got blisters on his feet and hands but we never noticed anything in his mouth. We felt like he had a fairly mild case because it didn't seem to bother him very much. It took a few days for the blisters to clear up.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Jul 28, 2014 19:13:54 GMT -5
DS got it 2 weeks ago. Blisters started near the diaper area Sat morning, then spread to the mouth and feet. By 5pm he had a fever and more blisters on his hands.
I took him to the Dr Monday because I needed a return to care note. DS improved daily and started to lose his sores Wed-Thu.
I ended up with fever and sore throat for about 36 hours starting Tue night. Then I felt better, but I got the blisters on my hands and feet.
L had a fussy week at daycare - she wasn't eating very well and her naps were crap. That Sunday she was EXTREMELY, abnormally cranky, so while we had been assuming teething, I started to wonder if it was HFM (my niece got it first and they were here nine days before). That afternoon she spiked a 101 fever, and by bedtime it was up to 102. She woke up four hours after she went down and proceeded to scream and scream and scream (at one point, she screamed until she threw up) and would only sleep in 30-60 minute stretches while H held her. The next day the rash showed up on her legs, knee, diaper line, bum, and she got this open patch on her chest. She got little blisters on her fingers and toes, but those were days later. H took her to the doctor that morning and she was diagnosed with HFM (and staph in two places - the spot on her chest, and a spot on her upper thigh). The ped said there is a particularly virulent case going around right now; typical HFM tends to stay on the hands, feet, and in the mouth/throat, but this strain causes it to show up pretty much everywhere. Anyway, L's fever broke in the afternoon and never came back, but she had ulcers in her throat and was just generally pretty miserable/under the weather for a few days. It's been two weeks and her skin is still healing, but the rash did start to fade pretty quickly.
We were allowed to send her back to daycare within 24 hours of her fever, because HFM is contagious before symptoms show up, so in total I think 7 kids ended up with it. And I guess the "bright side" is that by the time the fever and rash show up, it's on its way out. I did send her to daycare for several days in long pants and socks, though, just to minimize exposure to her sores.
I ended up getting it, too, and it knocked me on my ass. I had a two-day fever that would not quit, mouth and throat ulcers, and blisters on my hands and feet. It wiped me out for about five days total.
Post by cincodemayo on Jul 28, 2014 19:45:30 GMT -5
There's almost no stopping this right? Seems like everybody is getting it!! My DS had two spots on his cheek but no fever tonight...... Please please baby Jesus dont be HFM.
Oy, thanks guys. He didn't feel quite so hot when I checked in on him just now. I did make an appointment for tomorrow, just in case.
Of course, baby sickness always comes at the most inconvienent times and tomorrow is a terrible day to miss work, but the baby snuggles will be worth it.
My daughter's HFM presented first as a low grade fever and then pimple-like spots on her face. The next morning she was covered in spots on her hands, legs, arms and feet and also her chest and diaper area. We kept her out of daycare for over a week.
ETA: she did not have it in her mouth, thank God. Her appetite did decrease and she slept a lot---sometimes for 3 hours at a time, twice a day and then all through the night.
It was no big deal when DS got it. When I got it, it was awful. We both survived. DH didn't get it. There's really no stopping it - kids spread it like crazy.
DD3 has it now after it has made it's way through her class at daycare. She had a mild fever on Sat. & Sunday and then in the morning after drop off we got the call she had started the rash on her hands and feet. She did get some up her arms and legs as well, but nothing too bad.
Also, there is only one blister by her mouth but nothing else in the mouth, thankfully. The worst of it is actually on her butt. We have to keep her home today as she was sent home yesterday. Like a PP said, I think her case is very mild, so we lucked out.
It was no big deal when DS got it. When I got it, it was awful. We both survived. DH didn't get it. There's really no stopping it - kids spread it like crazy.
I got it too, right after the pedi was all "don't worry, adults very rarely get it." When I did---DAMN. It was 100x worse than DS.
DS got it. Presented with a fever in the evening and one spot. Fever spiked overnight and had more spots the next day. Fever stayed moderate (100-ish) for a day or so, went away, but the blisters popped up here and there for another day or so but then it all went away.
I got HFM 3 days after DS' symptoms started. It was AWFUL. I don't think DS was as miserable as I was. Just kind of out of it, tired, and fussy.
O had it two weeks ago, got diagnosed tow hours before her birthday party, lol.
Presented itself with a fever and one spot. Super clingy, which is rare for her. Spots grew all over, but it started at her hands. It was really bad for about 3-4 days, but she did sleep more. I think the fever was only around the first two days, and was the first thing to leave. Spots started clearing up around day 4-5.
Welp, rash is all over his entire body, and getting worse by the minute. His fever came back after his first nap, but went down again with another dose of Motrin.
He ate lunch ok, and I don't see spots in his mouth, but he's definitely clingy and warm. Right now he's watching RHOOC intently. MOTY.
Doc says she not sure it's HFM since he has a full body rash and not exactly blisters (yet), but it's definitely viral something. She said his throat was red and we definitely need to keep him home at least until the fever is gone for 24 hours. C is so so clingy and whiny right now. We're alternating Motrin and Tylenol. His fever seems to be going away, but the rash is bad.
I had to ice the rash on my fingers because they itched and hurt so much. It is one of the worst things I've ever had. It should only be REALLY TERRIBLE for 2-3 days. I'm sorry you're sick.