Hand, foot mouth - should I cancel kids party

[keepcalmandeatcake]

I think my children may have a mild case of hand, foot and mouth. None of them are running a temperature or feeling very unwell in themselves. They all have a very obvious rash on their feet and a few spots/ blisters on their hands. My eldest looks like he has a couple of blisters in his throat although it doesnt seem to be bothering him. They are a bit narkier then usual. We're suppossed to be having a big party at ours on Friday afternoon. I cant decide what to do. Should I let people know and give them the choice or could this make people feel awkard? Should I cancel? What do you think the chances are the kids will get better by Friday? I should be rushing around cleaning, baking, putting up gazebos etc but am feeling very demotivated if we're going to cancel. What would you do? What's the fairest to other people?

NB Have all my crazy kids rushing around so apologies if I step away but I'll definitly be back.

I would cancel.

hmmm I guess so. Glum, glum, glum.

It is very contagious. You need to cancel the party. Sorry.

Or maybe I could hire 50+ biohazard suits and theme the party round them! LOL!

Mine have just had this and it only took them a couple of days to get over it so if they have it now they should be okay by friday. Like yours none of them were in the slightest bit ill, they just had the rash (dd) and a couple of ulcers (dses). Noticed the spots on dd on saturday, they'd gone by monday, both dses had ulcers on monday but no new ones since.

When's the contagious bit for it? Before or after the spots appear?

From patientUK:

Is hand, foot and mouth disease infectious?

Yes. The incubation period is 3-5 days. This means it takes 3-5 days to develop symptoms after being infected from another person. Most cases are passed on by coughing and sneezing which transmits the virus into the air. Sometimes small outbreaks occur in nurseries and schools. It is mainly infectious until the spots and mouth ulcers have gone. Therefore, children should be kept off school until the symptoms ease, all blisters have dried, and they are feeling better. There is no need to wait for the last blister to disappear to go back to school or nursery, providing the child is well.

However, children can still be mildly infectious for several weeks longer as the virus may be passed out with the faeces (stools) for several weeks after the symptoms have gone. Therefore, it is sensible to maintain good hygiene to reduce the chance of passing on the virus. For example:
Make sure that children wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet.
Aim to keep mouth and nose covered when coughing and sneezing. Wipe the nose and mouth with disposable tissues.
Adults should take particular care when handling nappies and tissues. Wash hands thoroughly after handling nappies and tissues.
Soiled clothes, bedding, and towels should be washed on a hot cycle of the washing machine.
It is best not to share cups, eating utensils, towels, etc whilst ill with this infection and for several weeks afterwards.
Do not deliberately pierce blisters, as the fluid is infectious.

So you could be fine by friday if there's no sign of new spots today, depending on when it started.

Ah ha - a ray of hope then. Will stop chain eating cupcakes and ice a few!

If they still have active spots today, those will never go by Friday - I would definitely cancel. Highly contagious especially in a closed environment like a house party. I've currently had a smallish scare re. hand foot and mouth as I'm very heavily pregnant and my children came into contact with someone who had it, my OB was adamant I stay well clear from people who have it. If you have any pregnant women attending your party, they definitely won't thank you for passing it onto them!!

I would cancel, having mc a baby after contracting h,f & m I don't know for sure this was why I mc but it has played on my mind a lot. I didn't even catch it from my DS, I picked it up at DS nursery, DS managed to avoid it! I also had symptoms for about 4 - 5 weeks after.