Hand, foot and mouth

[Countrylifemama]

Hi

So I noticed a few red spots on DS on Wednesday but thought it may have been heat rash as his nursery room was quite warm... Then yesterday they looked like little flat blisters. I've been to the GP and they've confirmed its HF&M. I've got a big family dinner this eve and MIL is insistent that we should all still go deposited explaining its contagious!!

It's like she can't hear and I'm talking to a brick wall... Anyways I wasn't told by the GP we have to be housebound... Can you still venture out? How long is he still contagious for? I've got another son who I'm hoping doesn't catch it as he it's his birthday

Any advice from those who's kiddies have had it...

I thought they were contagious before blisters came out? That's why it spreads so easily. But dd2 was really miserable with it while the blisters were around and in her mouth, they can be sore. A poorly, grumpy baby in the evening at dinner time will be no ones idea of fun!

Ah ok see I've been told different things so not quite sure. Not all the red spots have turned into blisters... Do they all? He's got a few more spots too but very feint from this morning ... Does this mean it's still quite highly active? My GP this morning was so rubbish as was 111 😩

The nhs website is really good for information about childhood illnesses. We only had it very mildly but some children's hands and faces can be covered in blisters.

Hope you had a pleasant evening, whatever you decided to do

HFM does not require exclusion from school etc. Obviously if the child feels unwell, that’s a different matter.

Check the NICE guidelines for info.

HFM can be contagious for weeks after it comes (up to 6 or 10 depending on strain) so as such there is no quarantine period

That said it can be highly contagious in the early stages (only I escaped when DS had it) and it is miserable for adults (DH got it and was off work for a week) so I would make that very clear to your MIL and the rest of the guests