To take him to hospital?

[Twinmum2025]

My little boy (nearly 2) has been poorly now for a few days, and I noticed these marks on his foot yesterday, and today I’ve noticed them on his leg, I thought seeing the initial one yesterday on his foot possibly h,f&m but now he’s got them on his leg so I’m not sure. He’s got a cough, cold, temperature and just genuinely unwell. Pictures attached when they upload x

Looks like HFM. No A&E required unless he has a temp that won’t come down with medicine, signs of dehydration such as no wet nappies or is very drowsy etc. Check NHS guidance for red flag symptoms.

continue with fluids and calpol, soft foods that don’t make his mouth sore and speak to 111 or pharmacist for further advice. Hospital risks nastier bugs and an incredibly long wait as he’d be extremely low priority unless there are symptoms not described in your op.

my boys both had HFM 2-3 times and it was worst in their nappy area. They were iller with that than chicken pox

I will never cease to be amazed that people would prefer to take medical advice from randomers on the internet instead of actual medical professionals

When my son had hand foot and mouth, his feet, arms legs and face was covered. There was hardly any skin that didn't have a spot. He didn't have any on his torso at all, but everywhere else he did. It looks like hfm to me.

It’s opinions from other parents on a parenting forum about a mild rash, it’s not like her child requires CPR and OP is asking ‘how do I do it’

"A mild rash"
that could be anything from a sweat rash to a sign of sepsis
bit like the time on here someone posted about their abdominal pain and all the oh so clever medics of Mumsnet told her to stop making a fuss
Thankfully she didn't listen and went to hospital
Where actual doctors diagnosed and ectopic pregnancy that could have killed her
Some of the so called medical advice I have read on here over the years is terrifying
But yeah crack on

Exactly, posted for advice and then used her brain and also sought medical advice, just because someone asks a question on here doesn’t mean they will live their life by the answers.

Looks like hand foot and mouth. DD had it and her arms, hands, legs, feet, nappy area, and around mouth were absolutely covered. She was much more unwell than she was with chicken pox but nothing you can do other than ride it out and give paracetamol if needed! Absolutely not a reason to attend hospital at this stage.

Why not make a GP appointment?

It looks like HFM to me, mine had them on his knees, feet, bum, hands, ears and mouth! Call 111 though if you need to put your mind at rest, I’ve done it plenty of times

My DD has just had hf&m. She had spots in a lot of places. Pharmacist advised me to give her calpol and ibuprofen and use anbesol for any mouth ulcers. No need to take to hospital, but if you’re really worried ring 111.

A 2yo that is genuinely unwell with a temperature is getting to A&E territory.
This idea that A&E is only for accidents or dire emergencies is great as long as you can actually determine if it’s a serious emergencies.

Your description would leave many people just waiting until Tuesday even though they need medical care as an emergency. Esp with children.

Hmm… bank hol weekend?
Is your GP open today?

It’s now on the back of the legs would this present as hfm?

Have you done a glass test?
https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/signs-and-symptoms/glass-test/

They look a little bit like bed bug bites, might want to check his bed too.

His bed is fine I’ve just checked it, we had bed bugs before from a family member and the bites were different I’m sure they were, but then bites wouldn’t make him have a cold/fever

Now I’m worried about bedbugs 😭 these are all of them ! Excuse my floor in the process of tidying up and I have 5 children!

They look itchy poor thing. Do you have any sudocrem to put on it?

Have you called 111 yet?

One of my children had HFM quite badly, they were everywhere - yes there were more in the areas you'd expect but everywhere else as well. And they had fever and not feeling well for a few days before.

Meant to say a lot of the spots were in the nappy area

Please don't give ibuprofen in case it is chicken pox.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-children/who-can-and-cannot-take-ibuprofen-for-children/#:~:text=Important,cause%20a%20serious%20skin%20reaction.

Definitely this. My little one had it a few months ago and had a rash all over. Fever and generally unwell. Paracetamol and lots of cuddles. It goes in about a week

Exactly like my DS with HFM - had a temperature and out of sorts the day before the spots came out.

When the spots came out, he perked up 100% and they hardly bothered him at all. With chickenpox however, he was still really unwell with the spots and they were so itchy.

This is today. And he’s still quite poorly. I’m not sure what to do I didn’t phone 111 as he perked up quite a bit. But today has been the worst he’s been since the spots/rash appeared