I will spare the hideous pictures of this, I will show you a copy of our favorite Christmas read instead, this book is amazing! It is by Joyce Dunbar you should check it out.
So Santa left us a special treat this Christmas..... okay, so maybe not Santa, it happened the night of the boy's Christmas program. Ellie struck a very high fever about the same time we hosted Grandadd and Mimi for dinner before the program. She was not feeling well, her fever spiked high, and she was very ill quickly. after a few days she broke out in these horrible blisters around her mouth, she also had them all over her tongue, and mouth. She could not eat at all, poor girl. She was miserable, I mean extremely in pain, and made sure to remind us of her discomfort, we tried to keep her hydrated, Orajel....ed, to help the discomfort of blisters all over her mouth, and tongue. Ellie is typically the bubbly happy girl, who has such a twinkle in her eye. She is usually all silly smiles, and very enthusiastic. It was sad watching her not enjoy Christmas.
Noah is now going through it, his mouth and lips, and tongue are covered in these big horrible blisters, that seem to eat away at their flesh. He is also lacking in enjoying playing with his toys from Christmas, he spiked a fever on Christmas eve, and has been whimpering through the pain. My heart breaks for them.
I have been washing my hands like crazy, and try to keep everything disinfected. However, Noah must have at some point kissed his sister, or something. With them being so close in age it is inevitable that they share what they have.
I actually now have some blisters in my mouth as well. So as we miss out on Church service, etc. you will know we are just sparing you the trouble of dealing with this. I actually had Nursery this morning at Church, and asked someone to fill in for us!
Information on HFMD if you want to know more:
Here is info about this viral infection called Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness of infants and children. The disease causes fever and blister-like eruptions in the mouth area. The disease usually begins with a fever, poor appetite, malaise (feeling vaguely unwell), and often with a sore throat.
One or 2 days after fever onset, painful sores usually develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. The sores are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks.
A non-itchy skin rash develops over 1–2 days. The rash has flat or raised red spots, sometimes with blisters. The rash is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; it may also appear on the buttocks and/or genitalia.
A person with HFMD may have only the rash or only the mouth sores.
Cause
HFMD is caused by viruses that belong to the enterovirus genus (group). This group of viruses includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses.
Coxsackievirus A16 is the most common cause of HFMD, but other coxsackieviruses have been associated with the illness.
Enteroviruses, including enterovirus 71, have also been associated with HFMD and with outbreaks of the disease.
How It Is Spread
Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.
Everyone who has not already been infected with an enterovirus that causes HFMD is at risk of infection, but not everyone who is infected with an enterovirus becomes ill with HFMD.
HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years old but can also occur in adults. Children are more likely to be at risk for infection and illness because they are less likely than adults to have antibodies to protect them. Such antibodies develop in the body during a person’s first exposure to the enteroviruses that cause HFMD.
Infection results in immunity to (protection against) the specific virus that caused HFMD. A second case of HFMD may occur following infection with a different member of the enterovirus group.
Diagnosis
HFMD is one of many infections that result in mouth sores. However, health care providers can usually tell the difference between HFMD and other causes of mouth sores by considering the patient’s age, the symptoms reported by the patient or parent, and the appearance of the rash and sores.
One or 2 days after fever onset, painful sores usually develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. The sores are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks.
A non-itchy skin rash develops over 1–2 days. The rash has flat or raised red spots, sometimes with blisters. The rash is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; it may also appear on the buttocks and/or genitalia.
A person with HFMD may have only the rash or only the mouth sores.
Cause
HFMD is caused by viruses that belong to the enterovirus genus (group). This group of viruses includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses.
Coxsackievirus A16 is the most common cause of HFMD, but other coxsackieviruses have been associated with the illness.
Enteroviruses, including enterovirus 71, have also been associated with HFMD and with outbreaks of the disease.
How It Is Spread
Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.
Everyone who has not already been infected with an enterovirus that causes HFMD is at risk of infection, but not everyone who is infected with an enterovirus becomes ill with HFMD.
HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years old but can also occur in adults. Children are more likely to be at risk for infection and illness because they are less likely than adults to have antibodies to protect them. Such antibodies develop in the body during a person’s first exposure to the enteroviruses that cause HFMD.
Infection results in immunity to (protection against) the specific virus that caused HFMD. A second case of HFMD may occur following infection with a different member of the enterovirus group.
Diagnosis
HFMD is one of many infections that result in mouth sores. However, health care providers can usually tell the difference between HFMD and other causes of mouth sores by considering the patient’s age, the symptoms reported by the patient or parent, and the appearance of the rash and sores.
There is no specific treatment for HFMD.
1 comments:
Well, that sound terrible! Poor babies!
And, YIKES! You can spread it for weeks after your symptoms have disappeared? That is awful! Will Noah be able to go back to school soon or will he have to say home because of it?
-Karen
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