Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (Coxsackie A)

[bitzermaloney]

The ILs are due to visit us this weekend, straight after staying with SIL and family. They've just told us that SIL's dd (2) has got Coxsackie A at the moment and are wondering if they should see us after all. Is there any risk that the ILs could somehow pick up the virus and pass it here? They are supposed to be babysitting for us on Saturday night while me and dh take a fantastic meal that we won at a really expensive restaurant... But obviously if there is a risk we don't want to take it. DS is 6 months old I've read that the younger the child the more serious it can be, and boys tend to have it worse. But I can't figure out from all the reading whether it is actually possible to pass it on in this way. I guess I should ring NHS direct... just wondered if anyone on here knows.

Ahem. Should read 'dh and I' of course. Pedant alert...

hopeful bump

Hand foot and mouth is extremely contagious, although not very serious (it is uncomfortable if they get blisters in the mouth).
However, according to my doc, it is very rare for adults to get it because they normally have built up immunity over the years.

sorry, I don't know but can say that when ds2 had it (aged 2), ds1 (aged 4) didn't catch it (and he's immunosuppressed!) so I would guess it's not all that contagious. but ds2 was really really sick with it, and it seemed v painful, so I guess it can be a pretty horrible bug to catch

I don't know how contagious it is for adults, but both my Ds had it a couple of years ago. DS2, who was 3 at the time had it very bad, all inside his mouth was sore, and it passed easily between them, but DH and didn't gett it