Hand, foot, and mouth disease

leebee · Jul 27, 2016

DD22 is taking a group of 4 eleven year olds to Portugal for a month a part of an international conference; they leave tomorrow. She's just heard from the mother of one of the kids. He has hand/foot/mouth disease. They are trying to determine if he can travel internationally or if they'll need to make other arrangements, but his mom said he "shouldn't" be too contagious. Has anyone had any experience with this illness? Do you know how contagious it is, or if there's anything DD can do to protect herself and the other kids in the village? I'm reading everything we can find about it while waiting to hear from the organizers or doctors, but I'm also hoping the DIS community can share info.

King Schultz · Jul 27, 2016

I thought that only affected cattle???

But I read a little and see it's a different virus in humans.

It appears it's spread fairly easily, but is mostly dangerous to very young children, although unpleasant for adults.

But, in my opinion, the parent should not let her kid go on the trip.

PrincessShmoo · Jul 27, 2016

leebee said:
DD22 is taking a group of 4 eleven year olds to Portugal for a month a part of an international conference; they leave tomorrow. She's just heard from the mother of one of the kids. He has hand/foot/mouth disease. They are trying to determine if he can travel internationally or if they'll need to make other arrangements, but his mom said he "shouldn't" be too contagious. Has anyone had any experience with this illness? Do you know how contagious it is, or if there's anything DD can do to protect herself and the other kids in the village? I'm reading everything we can find about it while waiting to hear from the organizers or doctors, but I'm also hoping the DIS community can share info.

I would be concerned about exposing not only the other kids in the group, but the kids/people in the other country (not to mention others on the airplane and airports, as well as the families of the other kids from other places). I also agree with King Schultz that kid should be kept home.

indygirl99 · Jul 27, 2016

No NO NO

Could be dangerous for those exposed at his destination.

Just think of how many kids think nothing of putting pencils, fingers, in their mouth to chew on, sharing drinks, coughing without covering their mouths or washing their hands.

It is called HAND foot MOUTH for a reason.

King Schultz · Jul 27, 2016

Found this:

"Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing, or contact with blister fluid or feces (stool) of an infected person. You can lower your risk of being infected by

Washing your hands often with soap and water
Disinfecting dirty surfaces and soiled items
Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with infected people"

I just don't know how someone could let an 11-year-old travel to a foreign country when no one could have any contact with him without risking catching the virus.

mjkacmom · Jul 27, 2016

It's a very common childhood illness, usually less contagious when the blisters appear after the first few days. It's the coxsackie virus.

clutter · Jul 27, 2016

Since the trip is for a month, can the mom make arrangements for the boy to join them in a week or whenever he's cleared?

My dd had a coxsackie type virus when she was young and she was miserable for 2 weeks (but I never caught it). I had it more recently and it only affected the soles of my feet, and no one with me caught it.

FoundMyPrince · Jul 27, 2016

Very contagious for kids, not so much for adults. And, if the other kids in the group have hung around this child then they have all been exposed. From my experience (as a parent and preschool teacher...not a physician), it looks bad (blisters), can be a little uncomfortable, have a runny nose, fever, etc., but that's about the worst of it. It can linger for weeks.

gwynne · Jul 27, 2016

I think OP's daughter should be talking to her official contacts at the conference. It sounds like that is happening. They should be the ones to decide if they want to take this on or not.

If it was my kid, it wouldn't have to get that far. I would keep him home. Everyone sits very, very close on airliners. And kids on a big trip together are not likely to carefully take each and every precaution. They are kids.

NJlauren · Jul 27, 2016

I know my doctor told me not to take DD2, to visit cousin local who had it for a week after the symptoms showed up.

She said it is highly contagious amoung children and no additional risk was necessary.

My biggest fear is the flying, I don't think that's a good idea when sick, ever.

JoeA · Jul 27, 2016

Not familiar with this but something that may be worth considering: Many international airports use thermal cameras and if the child is running a fever they could be denied entry and put into quarantine.

Lilacs4Me · Jul 27, 2016

And, once you get it, you are immune, I thought? or am I thinking 5th Disease?

At any rate, all of my kids had this when they were little at daycare. I taught preschool there at the time. It went through the infant/toddler room for about 3 weeks. After the initial fever, then the blisters, it wasn't really that bad. They went away in a few days. DD didn't even have true blisters - she just had these red blotches on the palms of her hands and feet. Nothing on her face. Some cases are mild, some are more severe- like any virus.

I would think that by 11, kids would be able to follow directions and keep their hands to themselves and frequently washed. The virus sheds through bowel movements for several weeks, if I remember correctly, so it was a concern for our teachers who changed diapers, but I'm pretty sure the 11-year old is well past needing any sort of bathroom help.

I don't see it as that big of a deal, but I guess you should probably get a Dr opinion on the specific child's case.

(PS - I'd send my kid, AND I would take another kid if I were in charge, if they had it and there were no other complications/health issues. It would not be a big deal to me AT ALL)

pocomom · Jul 27, 2016

As a parent I can't see wanting the kid to go. Obviously he is run down. Add on traveling, group of kids etc. I would be worried about HIM getting sicker.
It's a common childhood disease but still... can they require a doctor's note for the kid for international travel? I can't see a medical professional signng off on that until he is at least past contagious and otherwise healthy.

Soldier's*Sweeties · Jul 27, 2016

Been there... Done that.

I think the biggest concern is spreading it to their traveling companions. It's a virus so things like not washing hands spread it the quickest.

BUT... My kids felt HORRIBLE when they had it. Their blisters manifested in their mouths and took a good 10 days to heal up. Will the child even feel like traveling?

Lilacs4Me · Jul 27, 2016

pocomom said:
As a parent I can't see wanting the kid to go. Obviously he is run down. Add on traveling, group of kids etc. I would be worried about HIM getting sicker.
It's a common childhood disease but still... can they require a doctor's note for the kid for international travel? I can't see a medical professional signng off on that until he is at least past contagious and otherwise healthy.

Run down?

Where does the OP say this?

Kids get viruses all the time. This is a classic "summer" virus. I hardly think the kid is on his deathbed. If he is, he shouldn't go. If it's a mild case (ie the mom sees a blister, takes the kid to the Dr. Dr verifies that it's HFM, and kid goes home feeling fine), then really, it's not a big deal.

But, as with everything - YMMV.

MrsCobraBubbles · Jul 27, 2016

He is extremely contagious until the sores dry up. I don't believe that the virus is spread through contact with the sores, I think it's just generally accepted that the virus is out of the child's system once the sores start that healing process and no new ones appear. The virus is spread through body fluids/feces and a 4 year old child can't be expected to wash his hands properly and keep his fluids to himself. I hope your daughter doesn't take him without a witnessed doctor's note.

edit: just realized I read the op as "eleven 4 year olds", lol. I still don't think it's a good idea to put him on a plane or send him to a conference. He may be one of the people who has a mild reaction to the virus but I've seen it do awful things to some children. I can only imagine how awful it would be for a kid to go through the worst of that virus while in a strange country, surrounded by virtual strangers.

MaryLovesPoohBear · Jul 27, 2016

Okay, I love the "shouldn't be too contagious."

I hope the mom realizes that her son shouldn't be traveling.

Lilacs4Me · Jul 27, 2016

MrsCobraBubbles said:
He is extremely contagious until the sores dry up. I don't believe that the virus is spread through contact with the sores, I think it's just generally accepted that the virus is out of the child's system once the sores start that healing process and no new ones appear. The virus is spread through body fluids/feces and a 4 year old child can't be expected to wash his hands properly and keep his fluids to himself. I hope your daughter doesn't take him without a witnessed doctor's note.

He's 11

"keep his fluids to himself" LOL

MrsCobraBubbles · Jul 27, 2016

Lilacs4Me said:
He's 11

"keep his fluids to himself" LOL

Haha, I noticed and just got done with my edit. Still think it's a bad idea : )

Lilacs4Me · Jul 27, 2016

MrsCobraBubbles said:
Haha, I noticed and just got done with my edit. Still think it's a bad idea : )

I do that all the time, too!

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

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