To be worried about hand foot & mouth?

[FantaIsFine]

I'm not worried for me as I believe adults get it only rarely and I have no children in my household at all, but I am due to be with a little patient tomorrow diagnosed this morning and have a couple of engagements in the next couple of days with other children present (and in one case a mum to be). I ABSOLUTELY intend to let them know I've had this contact and understand/intend to rearrange - it would be AWFUL not to do so. The poorly baby wouldn't be present though. So that I am aware, however:

Bearing in mind that I'm going to see the current sufferer tomorrow and usually end up wearing his chewed biscuits one way or another, mainly down my top, can anyone answer:
How infectious is it once it presents?
How long would I (say) be able to communicate it to other children for if at all and should I be aware when seeing adults with children even?
At what age does contact become irrelevant? (Say my PG friend's two children are both over 5 - she of course is PG so that adds an extra layer in, but hope YSWIM)
Is the pregnancy element relevant or if it is gastrointestinal does it mean it shouldn't matter?

I think the method of transmission is saliva or poo. I'm unlikely to share either of my own with any other children, does this help in the equation? Plus I am a pretty frequent hand-washer anyway.

What I don't want is to be irresponsible so I'm asking here as there are so many wise words to be had...although I certainly intend to let my friends know regardless. The NHS online advice isn't awfully helpful.

Thanks in advance...sorry if AIBU is wrong forum, but great traffic

[DisappointedOne]

DD got it from a soft play (I've always hated those places!). Couple of days later I thought I had a cold and it went from there.

[FantaIsFine]

I'm REALLY sorry for everyone who has had awful experiences, but I am going into this on my own behalf fine - is there any information anyone has about incubation otherwise? I'm only worried about other children.

Appreciate Pacific your point and Permets that I am overworrying. It's hard to see the wood for the trees and the last thing I want is to cause any harm and then some seem to think that I should quarantine myself.

I think all I can do is to provide full disclosure, take care to be very sanitary/handwashy and let the parents (to be) make the decision. Thanks EVERYONE for your input.

[PacificDogwod]

Hm. Yes, soft play areas should come with health warnings

The illest I have every seen any of my 4 was DS3 with Slapped Cheek - another 'mild' childhood infection. Luck of the draw. None of the other 3 or us got it btw.

[DisappointedOne]

DD was fine with it. Totally knocked me out.

[FantaIsFine]

Just for the record, the PG element was answered but is anyone able to advise on some of the other original questions?

How infectious is it once it presents?
How long would I (say) be able to communicate it to other children for if at all and should I be aware when seeing adults with children even?
At what age does contact become irrelevant?

[ouryve]

It's very infectious and only irrelevant once you've had it.

The boys got it when it ran through their nursery/foundation unit. Turned out I'd never had it and I ended up with a mouthful of very painful ulcers - and more embarrassingly, drooling uncontrollably as a result. I didn't get the hand blisters, though.

[FantaIsFine]

I am very confused :-( by all these posts.

It's very infectious, most of us have carried it (would agree if very infectious), when you have it, it's serious, but according to the medics, it isn't generally a problem with adults (which would also agree with if we've all had it mildly)...someone please help?

I'm honestly trying to understand, but there is a lot of conflicting advice or accounts. Also, it's a virus I believe, so I don't believe one generates immunity to a virus - do I have that right?

A very important question being, at which point have "most" of us come into contact with this?

[Pobspits]

I don't know what you mean by 'contact become irrelevant'? I wouldn't be happy if my kids caught it at any age.

It's apparently very infectious. Spread by droplets from saliva or sneezing etc as well as fecal matter - think it can be carried in fecal matter for 3 weeks after showing symptoms even once well.

Afaik it has a fairly short incubation period under a week.

[Pobspits]

Also it can be caused by 2 different viruses - one of which enterpvirus is more likely to cause serious complications such as brain infections (but not commonly)

Tbh if you're seeing the kid tomorrow either avoid people or let them know and make the call as you said. No need for all this angst.

[Pobspits]

Also you do develop immunity to viruses.

I would imagine given its most common in under 10s most of us have been in contact with it then but as I said there are 2 types....

[PacificDogwod]

It IS very contagious, but most people have a 'subclinical' infection which means they 'zero-convert' = develop the antibodies without actually being ill.
It's one of the many viruses we are constantly in contact with and sometimes it makes some of us ill.
Contagiousness is usually worst before any kind of rash/blisters break out.

Look, chickenpox is very contagious, usually a mild childhood illness but also can cause encephalitis and longterm disability. Most chickenpox contacts happen perfectly innocently because a child who is well, but will break out in chickenpox a few days later, goes to nursery while they are already 'shedding' virus. Some kids in the nursery will get chickenpox, some won't and some will see-convert without having been ill themselves.

[FantaIsFine]

Thanks Pobspits. I was asking this question as a responsible person without knowing the detail around the infection and like I say, many posters I have seen have said how irresponsible it was to have put anyone in a position of infection in a position of knowledge. I now feel foolish and being accused of "angst" is unlikely to encourage any future posters to ask advice.

[Birdsgottafly]

I used to be a CP SW and depending on were I was, Children's Centre, Supervised Contact, it was 5-7 days.

Are you part of an organisation?

Your manager should be directing you.

[coconutpie]

Why can't you just not see the sick cold tomorrow, and go see everybody else as planned? Is that not the easiest solution?

[Pobspits]

You're massivelt overreacting to my post and kind of proving my point

I'm not being mean I just genuinely think if you're seeing the infected kid tomorrow then that's it. Worrying about it won't help, you can only forewarn people.

[FantaIsFine]

I'm only asking if I'm at risk of being a carrier as a grown-up/for how long and how many people I should tell or be careful of being with - I'm in no way associated with CP or employed with children - I genuinely meant it in a responsible way and that's it! I'm seeing the sick child tomorrow as he is as close to being my own as any and I'd sacrifice my social engagements accordingly.

[Birdsgottafly]

Just seen that it is friends that you are worried about, good hand hygiene and don't use cups etc.

We had a duty of care, so we had to have a clear infectious disease policy, for each infection.

I've had regular contact with H/F/M and never picked it up and I get Chicken Pox and Shingles.

[Birdsgottafly]

It's a drooling, everything in its mouth, not washing hands, infected child that needs to be isolated.

You'll be fine, if you contracted it, you'd be unluckily to pass it on (unless you lick your friends).

[Pobspits]

Let friends know for next week esp if young / immuno compromised or have big event coming, say you've been exposed would they like to postpone - totally understand if so but great if not. They make the call. You don't need to think about it then. Fwiw its spread via coughing or sneezing wtc not just kisses and sharing cups.

[CharleyDavidson]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'when does contact become irrelevant'? Never, if you've never had it. DH caught it (a mild case) from DD when he was 29.
Generally though it is mild and nurseries don't have an exclusion period for it. DD caught it off a baby friend (they were about 13 months old and drinking out of each other's cups etc).

[Flowerpower41]

When ds was preschool he caught HFM and also the other more severe one (I can't recall its name) and I caught it both times off him.

It was a horrid illness and I felt quite incapacitated.

Do be careful.

[smaths]

Can echo the experience of others above who have caught it - dds got it from nursery, so mild I barely noticed. I began to feel ill about 5 days later and, like others, it was the illest I have been in adult life. DH then caught it exactly one week later and he was the same. Took me 3 weeks to feel better and months before my hands and feet healed, my nails had holes through them from the lesions

[Idefix]

[PDF]Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings
//www.coleraineai.com/Infection%20control.pdf

Thought this might help, I really feel that whilst your concerns are well intentioned you are tying yourself in knots op.

Imagine you were a early years professional or teacher, no way would you be worrying about whether you are potentially going to pass on the disease, how long you might be a risk to others. These people and also hcp constantly the mix of people you describe and present no risk to others.

For example in a normal day I will see a child with cp followed by a pg women I will not transmit cp to the pg woman simple hygiene precautions will be sufficient.

I am assuming that after the hfm child who's may cover you in saliva encrusted biscuit crumbs you will be washing and changing your clothes so the risk there of transmission (if possible) will be gone.

You sound like a very lovely, considerate friend but I would say go and enjoy your engagements and trust the medical advice regarding this condition, it requires no quarantine.

Fwisw anyone who is severely unwell with a usually mild illness such as this especially if they are adults should probably consider being checked out by Dr for underlying condition. Obviously avoid people who have compromised immune systems when ever you yourself are not well.