HFMD - Oh Boy!

16 Nov'2009


Poor Eugene. He got the HFMD (Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease).

Everybody's asking where he kena it from since he has not attend any playgroup yet.

Incubation period is between 3-7 days and I'm guessing that he got it from (a) Gymboree (b) Toa Payoh Storytelling session (c)when we were at JB, he was near some kids who were playing or (d) when going out, always have some older toddlers coming to see and touch him.



Info about HFMD from the web :

Typical symptoms include ulcers in a child's mouth (especially his tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks), blisters on his hands and feet (palms and soles) and a low grade fever. Other symptoms can include a rash on the child's buttocks and mild pain from the mouth ulcers.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is usually caused by the coxsackievirus A16 virus and goes away without treatment, although symptomatic treatments to control pain can be helpful. Important complications to look for include dehydration, especially if your child has painful mouth ulcers and is not eating and drinking well.

Back of lower leg




Wah, that's a big blister.




He started getting cranky on Saturday and then had a mild grade fever - we thought he was teething. Indeed, he's got a front tooth coming out.

Then he got rashes on his buttock - we thought it was nappy rash, though this was the first time it happened.

Then, on Monday, while going out to get some stuff, I noticed some small red pin-prick spots and blisters on the sole of his feet and a spot on his finger. Hmm.... strange....... then, more spots on his lower legs.

I called hubby and he said it's most probably heatiness and it's heat rash. But my intuition tells me otherwise.

Then while eating my lunch, it suddenly dawned on me that it could be HFMD. He got it on his hand and feet already and I quickly went to check his mouth. Nothing around his mouth but he got 2 very small like blisters on his lower lips. I tried to see his upper lips and inside his mouth but Eugene clamed up tight as clam.

Hubby rushed home and my Pa-in-law, who's a skin specialist came over to look at Eugene and confirmed that it is HFMD.

Poor Boy, he was tired and restless and whiny and refused to eat and drink. It must be painful for him to eat and drink because of the oral ulcers. We were so afraid that he will be dehydrated that we actually had to hold him down and syringe milk into his mouth. No choice lah - more problem if he is dehydrated.

We got a numbing lotion from a doctor to put on his mouth ulcers and it helped! He started eating soft food and drinking his milk.

Luckily his is a mild case. His blisters are slowly drying up and crusting. And he's got his appetite back! What a relief!

He's generally back to his old self - one sure sign is that he's back to putting stuff into his mouth to taste which means no more oral ulcers.

Hubby and I try to look on the positive side of things. When he goes to playgroup next year, at least he'll be immune unless it's another strain of virus.

(see what happens later)