What to Do if Your Child Has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection, most often caused by the coxsackievirus. It’s characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet (hence the name!). It’s one of those childhood illnesses that tends to come on suddenly and causes a fair amount of discomfort, but the good news is that it’s almost always mild and resolves on its own within a week or so.

What Age Group is Most Affected By HFMD?

HFMD is most common in children under five, though kids up to age 10 can also get it. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are particularly susceptible because they’re constantly exploring their environment with their hands and mouths, and they spend a lot of time in close contact with other kids. Daycare facilities playschools and preschools are common sites for outbreaks. While it’s less frequent, adults can contract the virus too, especially if they have close contact with young children.

Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Symptoms usually start to appear 3–7 days after exposure, and you might first notice your child seems a little more tired or irritable than usual. A mild fever is often one of the first signs. Soon after, painful sores may develop in the mouth, especially on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks, making it uncomfortable for your child to eat or drink. Around this time, you may also see red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes even on the buttocks or legs.

The skin lesions are 2–6 millimeters in size, and are not painful or itchy. The blisters may burst, leaving reddish sores. Unlike chicken pox, HFMD doesn’t leave scars.

Typical symptoms include:

• Fever (often one of the first signs)
• Sore throat
• Painful sores in the mouth
• Rash on the hands, feet, or other parts of the body
• Irritability in infants and toddlers
• Decreased appetite or refusal to eat due to mouth pain

It’s important to keep an eye on your child’s nutrition and hydration during this time. Since eating and drinking are uncomfortable, they might not eat and drink enough and dehydration is a danger. Watch for signs like a dry mouth, fewer wet diapers, peeing less often, and sunken eyes.

Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?

Yes, HFMD is quite contagious. It can spread through direct contact with the saliva, mucus, blister fluid, or feces of an infected person. That means things like coughing, sneezing, touching contaminated surfaces, or changing diapers can pass the virus along. It’s especially contagious during the first week of illness, but the virus can be present in the body for weeks after symptoms have gone away, meaning your child can still pass it to others even if they’re feeling better.

How Can We Avoid the Spread HFMD?

As parents, our best defense against HFMD is good hygiene practices. Here are some things you can do to help prevent the spread of the virus in your home or community:

• Frequent handwashing: Teach your child to wash their hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after changing diapers or helping your child with the toilet.
• Disinfect surfaces: Toys, doorknobs, and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned often, especially if someone in the household is infected.
• Avoid close contact: If your child is sick, keep them home from school or daycare until they are no longer contagious. Avoid kissing, hugging, or sharing utensils or towels with others in the household.

How Long is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?

HFMD is most contagious in the first week of illness, but the virus can still be present in your child’s system for several weeks after symptoms disappear. During this time, they can continue to spread the virus to others, even though they appear to be healthy. In most cases, children can return to daycare or school once their fever has subsided, and the mouth sores and blisters have started to heal.

How is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Treated?

There’s no specific treatment for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, as it’s a viral infection, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do. Symptom management is key, and making your child as comfortable as possible can go a long way. Here’s what I recommend:

• Pain relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce fever and ease the discomfort from mouth sores and body aches. Be sure to check with your pediatrician for the correct dosage based on your child’s age and weight.
• Keep them hydrated: Mouth sores can make drinking painful, so try offering cold liquids, smoothies, or popsicles to soothe their throat and keep them hydrated. Avoid acidic drinks like orange juice, which can irritate the sores.
• Soft foods: Stick to soft, easy-to-swallow foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and applesauce while your child’s mouth is sore.

Most children will recover completely in about 7–10 days, and the best treatment is often patience and lots of TLC.

What Are the Danger Signs to Watch for?

Most children recover completely in a week or so, but some children have severe disease or complications. Watch for these red flags and take your child to your healthcare provider or emergency room.

• High fever that doesn’t respond to medicine doses
• Seizures
• Deep sleep, unrousable.
• Dehydration signs
• Meningitis signs — headache, stiff neck, high fever, and back pain.

Can Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Recur?

Yes, unfortunately, HFMD can come back. Since it can be caused by different strains of viruses, having it once doesn’t mean you’re immune for life. While a child may develop immunity to the specific strain they were infected with, they can still catch it again if exposed to another strain.

Can a Child Be Breastfed if They Have HFMD?

Absolutely! If your child is still breastfeeding, it’s perfectly safe to continue. In fact, breast milk provides crucial antibodies that can help support their immune system during the illness. However, if the mouth sores are making nursing painful for your baby, you may want to try expressing milk and offering it in a bottle, which might be gentler on their mouth.

Can Adults Get Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Yes, adults can contract HFMD, though it’s less common. In most cases, adults experience milder symptoms than children, but they can still carry and spread the virus. If you’re caring for a child with HFMD, practice good hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and avoid close contact with their sores or bodily fluids.

Can a Mother Breastfeed if She Has HFMD?

If you, as a mother, develop HFMD, you can still breastfeed your child. The virus is not transmitted through breast milk, and the antibodies you produce can provide protective benefits for your baby. Just be sure to wash your hands often and avoid touching any of your own blisters while handling or feeding your baby. If you have blisters on your breasts, express milk and feed the baby using a bottle until the sores heal.

Summing Up

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, while uncomfortable, is usually mild and can be managed at home with proper care and patience. As parents, it’s natural to feel worried when your child is sick, but knowing what to expect, how to treat the symptoms, and how to prevent the spread can make a big difference. Remember that most children recover fully within a week to 10 days, and serious complications are rare.

Stay mindful of hygiene practices to limit the spread, and ensure your child stays hydrated and comfortable during their recovery. If you ever have concerns or if your child’s symptoms seem to worsen or persist longer than expected, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician. With care and time, your child will be back to their healthy, energetic self before you know it!

The post Important Info: What to Do if Your Child Has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

“Baby blues” describes the fleeting weepiness and sadness following childbirth—common but not perilous.

Perinatal depression often surfaces weeks after delivery, persisting without intervention. Recognized as a severe medical disorder, its repercussions extend beyond the individual to encompass the well-being of both mother and baby. This article navigates the identification, self-help strategies, and available medical treatments for this pressing concern.

Decoding Perinatal Depression

Depression seldom walks alone; it brings companions. Up to two-thirds of individuals battling perinatal depression also contend with anxiety disorders, panic disorder, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This unaddressed mental health burden demands attention.

Perinatal depression isn’t just an individual woe; untreated, it casts a shadow on the new mother, the infant, and the entire family.

Recognizing Warning Signs of PPD

Identifying potential signs of postpartum depression is crucial:

• Excessive sadness
• Feeling hopeless
• Struggling to bond with your baby
• Avoiding social connections
• Frequent crying
• Disturbing thoughts of self-harm or harm to your baby
• Neglecting household and childcare tasks
• Sleep disturbances, either excessive or insufficient
• Anxiety, panic attacks, or mood swings

Recognize these signals as a call to action, and seek immediate consultation with your doctor. Prompt intervention ensures a return to your joyful self, capable of relishing and cherishing your newfound motherhood.

Empowering Yourself Against Perinatal Depression

Perinatal depression demands immediate attention, and seeking help from a healthcare professional is crucial. However, you can take proactive steps to support your well-being:

1. Cultivate Joy

Engage in activities that brought you happiness before pregnancy.

2. Meet Friends and Loved Ones

Regularly spend time with friends and family who can assist with baby care, allowing you moments for rest or preferred activities.

3. Venture Out Daily

Break the 24/7 baby care routine by going for walks, running errands, or meeting a friend.

4. Nurture Bonding

Make intentional efforts to be emotionally present with your baby, as their joy can significantly counteract depressive thoughts.

5. Exercise Mindfully

Initiate an exercise program with guidance from your doctor to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing.

6. Join Supportive Communities

Explore local or online postpartum depression support groups, recommended by your doctor. Connecting with others in similar situations can be incredibly beneficial.

Treatment Paths for PPD

When tackling postpartum depression (PPD), the initial recourse is often psychotherapy, a beneficial choice, particularly for milder cases. Remarkably, even in severe instances, your doctor may recommend this approach. It’s generally advised to steer clear of medications while breastfeeding.

Engaging in therapy sessions with proficient mental health experts, either in-person or through remote video conferencing, proves instrumental in conquering PPD without resorting to medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) emerge as two widely employed psychotherapeutic methods.

However, for those with a history of requiring depression medications or experiencing moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy alone might not suffice. In such cases, your doctor may initiate medication as a primary step, especially if access to psychotherapy is limited. The treatment path chosen hinges on individual circumstances, ensuring a tailored approach to address the complexities of postpartum depression.

Medicines for Perinatal Depression

Perinatal depression can be treated with various medications. Common choices include SSRIs like Zoloft and Lexapro and SNRIs like venlafaxine and duloxetine. While there are other options like TCAs, MAOIs, and hormones, SSRIs are usually preferred.

Newer medications, Brexanolone (Zulresso) and Zuranolone (Zurzuvae), act faster but come with considerations. Brexanolone is given through a 60-hour infusion, providing almost immediate relief but requires a hospital stay and costs $34,000. Zuranolone, taken orally, is rapidly effective but is expensive at $16,000 for a 14-day course. While these offer quicker relief, concerns include cost, potential addiction, and safety during breastfeeding. Zuranolone was approved in late 2023 and will be available in early 2024.

Navigating Risks of Treatment

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Febrile seizures happen with fever. It’s the most common nervous system disorder in children, occurring in 2-5% of children. The usual age is six months to five years, but they’re most frequent between 12 and 18 months.

What causes febrile seizures?

Febrile seizures are a reaction of the immature brain to fever. Seizures result from electrical discharges in the brain. At young ages, there is increased excitability of the brain. Seizures happen quickly in response to stimuli.

Genetic factors are important. About a third of children with febrile seizures have family members who also had them.

The height of the fever is related to the likelihood of febrile seizures. According to Leung and Hon, 80% of febrile seizures occur with viral infections. Some vaccines also cause febrile seizures.

How does one know it’s a febrile seizure?

Children often have irregular movements of their limbs. Seizures are different, however. Your baby may become rigid and have rhythmic or jerky movements of all their limbs. Most babies roll up their eyes and become unresponsive during a seizure. The seizure usually lasts less than 5 minutes, but most are shorter.

This loss of consciousness is an important sign. Many metabolic seizures cause limb and body movements, but your baby is completely conscious. Seizures caused by low calcium or low glucose blood levels are such seizures.

It’s not easy to tell a febrile seizure from epilepsy or a brain infection. Once the seizure has stopped, you should have your child seen by your pediatrician.

What to do when your child is having a seizure

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following steps in case your child shows symptoms of a febrile seizure:

• Move your child to a flat surface, on their side, away from hard and sharp objects. Don’t try to hold them down
• Turn their head to one side so that saliva and secretions drain out. This keeps the air passages clear
• Don’t try to put fingers or objects into the mouth; it’s unnecessary and may even cause injury
• If the seizure goes on beyond 5 minutes, call for help or rush to an emergency room.

Are febrile seizures harmful?

Your child having a seizure is a terrifying experience. Panic and anxiety about whether your child will survive the episode are natural. You may also worry about brain damage and disabilities.

Most febrile seizures last only a minute or two. These short seizures do no long-lasting harm to your baby. Your baby will awaken in a few minutes. There is no brain damage, intellectual disability, long-term paralysis, or nervous system problem.

Nevertheless, if a seizure goes on for several minutes, it can damage the brain. This is exceedingly rare with febrile seizures.

Will it happen again?

Yes, there is a possibility. There is a risk of febrile seizure every time your baby has a fever.

If your baby was less than a year old at the time of the first febrile seizure, the risk of more seizures is about 50%. If they were over a year old, the risk is about 30%.

Can febrile seizures be avoided?

Antiepileptic drugs like phenobarbital and valproate can reduce the recurrence of these seizures. However, these drugs have to be taken daily and have adverse effects.

Febrile seizures themselves are not very damaging. More than half of children don’t have repeat seizures. Preventive medicines are not recommended.

Diazepam can prevent febrile seizures if started as soon as your child has fever. This drug can be given by mouth. However, sometimes a seizure happens before you notice your child’s fever. Diazepam also has adverse effects and is not recommended unless there have been multiple or prolonged febrile seizures.

Will your child develop epilepsy?

Parents worry that if their baby had a febrile seizures, she may go on to have epilepsy and that’s a worrying thought indeed, because people with epilepsy have to live with restrictions. They also have to take medicines for years. The good news is, epilepsy is not more common in children who have febrile seizures. The likelihood of future epilepsy is almost the same as in children who have never had a febrile seizure.

What medicines to store at home

You should have fever medicine in stock. Acetaminophen [Tylenol] or ibuprofen [Advil or Motrin] are safe medicines to bring down fever.

You can’t totally avoid febrile seizures, because they may happen within minutes of the fever. Sometimes, a seizure happens before the fever. Being alert about your baby’s fever and keeping fever medicine handy reduces febrile seizures.

Anti-epileptic medicines are not helpful when given for a day or two with fever. They’re dangerous to store at home, too.

Most drugs that stop seizures are given by an injection into a vein. One medicine that can be given at home is midazolam, which is sprayed into the nose. In some situations, your doctor may advise you keep it at home.

Should my baby be taken to the hospital?

Your pediatrician will want to see your child when you inform them about a seizure. You can ask for a same-day appointment. Conversely, sometimes you will have to rush to the hospital or emergency room if:

• The seizures don’t stop after several minutes.
• You can’t wake your baby later
• The fever is very high
• Your baby has more than one seizure

Seizures with fever are not always febrile seizures. Serious diseases like meningitis or encephalitis also cause fever and seizures in children. Your physician may need to test for them.

Usually, children with febrile seizures are not hospitalized. Once your doctor has made sure there’s no serious disease, and your child is conscious, they’ll be sent home with you.

About 2-5% of children will have a febrile seizure at some point. Most of these seizures are scary but brief, and your child will recover quickly and completely. You should visit your pediatrician to make sure there’s no serious disease. About a third of children have repeat seizures, but they too outgrow these seizures by the age of six. There’s almost no increased risk of epilepsy or mental disability.

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Constant fatigue reduces the capacity to work and quality of life. Dr Galland-Decker et al. report in the British Medical Journal that a fifth of the population suffers from fatigue, with several different causes.

Feeling spent all the time can be the early sign of a grave health problem. However, the good news is that early diagnosis and treatment can reverse some of these disorders and prevent others from progressing. Unfortunately, many people do not seek medical help for fear of being labelled as lazy or fussy.

Are you always feeling tired?

Do you feel tired on most days, even after a good night’s rest, and never think that you’re functioning at your best? Don’t shrug it off. Review your lifestyle and see if you can tweak it to get more rest and better nutrition. Some fixes are easy, some not, but they’re worth trying before visiting your doctor. Lifestyle factors often underlying perpetual fatigue:

• An improper or restrictive diet
• Caffeine overload
• Inadequate sleep.

If you’ve tried all the lifestyle fixes and you’re still tired all the time, respect the warning your body’s giving you. Diseases first showing up as fatigue can progress to a dangerous stage if ignored. Here’s list of top reasons that could be behind your feeling always tired.

Top reasons why you feel might be feeling constantly tired

1. Thyroid Deficiency

Thyroid deficiency, more common in women, usually results from an autoimmunity disorder. Reduced production of the thyroid hormones manifests as tiredness and excessive sleepiness.

Other signs are constipation, slow heartbeat, unexpected weight gain, and hoarseness. Women often have heavy periods.

Your doctor will diagnose thyroid deficiency [hypothyroidism] by measuring the thyroid hormone levels in the blood, by a blood test. It is simple to treat, requiring a dose of thyroid hormone every morning.

2. Diabetes

It’s not usual, but sometimes the first sign of diabetes is constant tiredness. Lack of energy, increased hunger and thirst, and an increased frequency of urination are the common signs of this disease.

Diabetes, if not controlled early, damages the heart, kidneys, nervous system, and other organs. Diagnosis is by urine and blood tests for glucose. Treatment doesn’t always mean drugs or injections; dietary and lifestyle changes can control diabetes for many years.

3. Anaemia

Haemoglobin in the red blood cells carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. A reduced amount of this vital molecule is called anaemia.

Anaemia can be because of:

• Low production [deficiency of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12; blood cancers; genetic defects, and several other reasons].
• Increased blood loss or destruction of the red blood cells [heavy periods, accidents and injuries with blood loss, hemolytic diseases].

Your doctor can often diagnose anaemia at a glance, but finding the cause needs laboratory investigations and diligence. The common causes of anaemia are nutritional and are straightforward to treat.

4. Mineral and Vitamin Deficiencies

Minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and others are vital for our body’s smooth running. They’re part of several enzyme systems, electrolyte balances, and metabolic pathways essential to our life processes. Vitamins also act on or facilitate several of the processes in our body.

Deficiencies of these crucial micronutrients cause tiredness and lethargy. They can be diagnosed by distinct clinical features apart from fatigue and confirmed by laboratory tests.

Most deficiencies are treated by altering the diet and providing oral supplements for a while. Some deficiencies [like vitamin B12] need a course of injections.

5. Heart Disease

A heart attack is dramatic and unmissable, but heart disease can be slow and sneaky, too. The heart gradually loses its capacity to pump blood efficiently, and fatigue is one of the early manifestations.

If you could easily climb up three flights to work but are now struggling and breathless, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Heart disease is one of the most frequent causes of sudden death.

6. Sleep Apnea

It’s pretty common, but not well known. Breathing slows or stops for a while during sleep, and blood oxygen levels drop.

Sleep apnea reduces the quality of sleep. Though you sleep enough, you don’t feel rested in the morning. Noisy breathing and snoring during sleep is a sign of partially blocked airways. Once your doctor suspects sleep apnea, a sleep study will establish the diagnosis.

Treatment is by a device used at night while you sleep. Called a CPAP [continuous positive airway pressure] machine, it keeps your airways open during sleep.

Obesity and smoking both contribute to this condition; you can help yourself by eliminating them. Sometimes, surgery is needed to clear airway obstruction.

7. Stress and depression

Mental health issues like stress, depression, and anxiety, etc. can leave you emotionally and physically tired. Apart from the direct effect, they also reduce the duration and quality of sleep, further contributing to tiredness.

Do you have difficulty sleeping at night and waking up in the morning? Do small tasks scare you? Are you finding it hard to concentrate on your work? These are common among people with depression. A mental health professional can help you.

8. Shift work sleep disorder

Do you work the night shift at your workplace? Or do your work hours change every week?

Working during the night, or at different times from time to time, is associated with poor sleep, appetite, and energy. Research has shown that those who work in clockwise shifts do better than those who function in anti-clockwise shifts. (Read more about the effects of shift work » Shift-proof your slumber)

9. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [CFS]

CFS is also called myalgic encephalomyelitis. This is a condition lasting months, and we don’t yet know the cause.

The important manifestation is feeling sick after any physical effort. Other symptoms are tiredness, headache, sore throat, and joint pains. Fatigue persists even after sleeping well.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a physical, bodily disorder, not a psychiatric or psychological one. Initially, it needs evaluation by a specialist in internal medicine.

Treatment is unsatisfactory and depends on the manifestations each individual has.

10. Restless Legs Syndrome

This is a condition of strange feelings in the legs when resting, relieved by movement. Sometimes, it manifests as aches and deep pain. Sufferers have to keep moving their legs or getting up to walk.

People suffering from this condition often have difficulty sleeping for years. Fatigue during the day is a frequent accompaniment.

11. Food Intolerance

Many people have low-grade allergies to food, called food intolerance. These don’t trigger dramatic reactions such as breathing difficulties, circulatory failure, etc., but cause long-term symptoms. Food intolerance often shows up as bloating, tiredness, anaemia, and digestive disturbances.

Once you realise food is causing your problem, you’ll have to work to identify the foods that cause your symptoms. Food and symptom diaries, elimination diets, and laboratory tests help in this. Changing your food habits to avoid the offending foods will usually see you regain your energy and enthusiasm.

12. Overweight or Obesity

Putting on weight puts a strain on your heart, skeleton, and muscles. The body has to work harder for usual things like walking to work and household tasks.

Constant fatigue and low energy levels often accompany obesity.

Other reasons for always feeling tired

Almost any disease that persists for a long time will drain you. While the illnesses listed below cause fatigue, it is rare for that to be the first manifestation.

• Cancer
• Mononucleosis
• AIDS
• Allergic rhinitis

Plan of action

Try the lifestyle fixes first.

Get enough sleep. Balance and regularise your meals. Drink plenty of liquids; dehydration often leads to feelings of tiredness.

Get some exercise. This sounds counterintuitive since you are already feeling so tired. But exercise improves your mood and confidence, and enhances the working of your heart, lungs, and muscles.

Losing weight, if you are overweight, is a good idea. It’ll not only give you a sense of purpose and achievement, but will also reduce the strain on your heart, bones, and joints.

If you’re still not feeling rested and energetic, make a medical appointment. As Drs Eccles and Davies point out, the “red flags” pointing to dangerous diseases will be looked for first. Further process will look for the cause of your fatigue and attempt to correct it.

Conclusion

The normal you should be healthy, enthusiastic, and whole. Your ability to live and enjoy your best life must be unrestricted.

Tiredness after a hard day’s work is normal; always feeling tired is a warning. If lifestyle modifications aren’t doing the trick, don’t wait too long to get medical help.

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