To wonder where DC picked up hand foot and mouth??

9 replies

CityDweller · 01/02/2021 11:32

DC1 (7yo) has hand foot and mouth. Classic blisters on hands, knees, etc. Both DC have had this many times in their lives.

But where on earth has she got it from? Since Boxing Day they've not seen another human outside of the four of us. Only outside for walks/ exercise once a day. DH goes out to do the shopping once a week. I barely leave the house.

According to the NHS it's carried in 'sneezes, coughs and poos'. So how can she have picked it up in lockdown???

OP posts:

mootymoo · 01/02/2021 11:39

Playground equipment?

Original poster

CityDweller · 01/02/2021 12:35

@mootymoo

Playground equipment?

Nope! Haven't been inside a playground for months!

OP posts:

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 01/02/2021 13:40

You say your DC have had it many times. It can be contagious for weeks so maybe they're just passing it between them? When did they last have it?

mindutopia · 01/02/2021 14:16

It's a mystery, isn't it? Dh and I both had a cold end of last week (I even got a COVID test as it made my asthma flare up and I had a bit of a cough). Dh and I both wfh. We haven't seen another person since Christmas. Dd is home learning, youngest one has gone back to nursery, but it's all socially distanced at drop off/pick up and he has been completely well. I'm assuming it came home on him from nursery or he had a cold but asymptomatically (is that possible?), or we picked it up from the post or shopping (online delivery but I mean literally touching it).

Original poster

CityDweller · 01/02/2021 16:49

@sparepantsandtoothbrush

You say your DC have had it many times. It can be contagious for weeks so maybe they're just passing it between them? When did they last have it?

Not for at least a year!

OP posts:

Original poster

CityDweller · 01/02/2021 16:50

@mindutopia

I guess that - must have picked it up from something coming into the house. Or I guess maybe touching a gate on a walk (not that they really do that).

OP posts:

tatutata · 01/02/2021 16:52

It's the most infectious thing. Could have been absolutely any passing object or person. Rather more infectious than covid AFAIK.

RaidersoftheLostAardvark · 01/02/2021 16:57

If your kid is at nursery they will totally pass on viruses to you even if they are well- either via their poor hand hygiene, or because they had it and weren't obviously symptomatic. Hand foot & mouth is very contagious and can be asymptomatic so probably your child was exposed whilst out walking (another kid passing by and sneezing/ coughing right at the level of their face) or your OH picked it up at the supermarket. You don't need to spend long with/near people to catch things- that's the whole problem with contagious diseases.

Dogonahottinroof · 01/02/2021 17:12

7 is old to get it. Do you get it more than once?

Has it be diagnosed by a GP?

Flip