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Hand foot and mouth? Chicken pox? Impetigo?

25 replies

ljcudd · 12/10/2021 21:07

Hi

Hoping someone can help.

My little girl had fever and vomiting over the weekend. She went to sleep Sunday with no spots and no rash, then woke up Monday with a few spots around her mouth. Within an hour it was loads of spots. By evening it was covering all of her chin, and this morning it was chin and up to nose. By evening today it was up her cheeks but now as clusters of spots all over her body.

Face is by far the worst, followed by her genitals/bum area. She has spots on her ears, chest, back, arms, hands, fingers, feet, legs, knees, genitals and bum. Nothing on sole of her feet or palms and from what we can see nothing in her mouth. It's spread so fast that it's completely changed hour to hour.

She's still running a high fever throughout the day which we had been treating with calpol and nurofen. We've now halted nurofen over fears it's chicken pox. Her temp is regularly reaching 40C although this happens often when she's poorly. She's also still vomiting here and there but is mainly bile at this point as there's nothing to throw up. She's eaten next to nothing since Saturday evening, and milk and water consumption has dropped over last couple of days to maybe 4-5 oz combined a day compared to probably 15-20oz combined liquids a day.

She wasn't pooing regularly last few days (usually goes 3 times a day and dropped to nothing except a follow through fart smear). She had an explosive poo today with wet smelly farts all day.

We did see GP yesterday who diagnosed either viral rash or hand foot and mouth however I feel the spots elsewhere might not ring true with HFM? The spots on her face are now clumping together into big patches of red and when not freshly washed it's quite crusty.

Behaviour wise, she's been awful. Very upset. Crying for long periods. Not sleeping (has slept though the night since 6 months). She has, on 2 occasions, been in hospital with 4 infections and on IV antibiotics for 3 days and separately had pneumonia and croup which led to a hospital stay with antibiotics and steroids and x rays. She is a very smiley baby. She was seriously ill in the past and was still flirting with the nurses, giggling, smiling and going "weeeeee" when they pushed us down the hallway in the wheelchair. This time? She's miserable. She's not my usual baby. It's heart breaking to watch.

She's 16 months old and there has been talk about her have an immune deficiency by hospital consultants but currently GP disagrees and won't refer her.

Thank you

OP posts:
ljcudd · 12/10/2021 21:08

More pics

OP posts:
MistySkiesAfterRain · 12/10/2021 21:12

Bump for you.

I'd go to A&E.

sconenotscon · 12/10/2021 21:13

Not sure OP but I'd ring out of hours

minipie · 12/10/2021 21:14

Oh poor love.

With the vomiting and spots elsewhere it doesn’t fit my experience of HFM and seems a better fit for chickenpox, but I’m no expert.

Stylewannabee · 12/10/2021 21:16

Hand foot and mouth is going round . Mine and several I know have had it within the last few weeks. However your description sounds more severe than our experience and maybe she does react badly to viral infections .

I second either calling 111 or a&e. You know your baby.

OlivejuiceU2 · 12/10/2021 21:17

I’m not a medical professional but I’d say it’s a bad case of HFM. Apparently there is a very bad strain at the moment. My daughter had it recently with spot all over, not just hands, feet and mouth area but as you have described.

Trust your instincts though, you know your daughter best and don’t hesitate to take her to hospital if you feel she needs to go.

Stylewannabee · 12/10/2021 21:17

Looks similar to what we had for HFM

FairyHuck · 12/10/2021 21:18

That's be an A and E job for me at this time of night. Looks like your baby needs a good dose of something and I wouldn't be waiting to see the gp tomorrow x

ItsSnowJokes · 12/10/2021 21:19

Thats a severe case of HFM in my eyes. My daughter had the same about 3 years ago and it looked exactly like that. Then she got a lovely viral rash all over her body to just cover in the places she didn't have spots already.

Bobbybobbins · 12/10/2021 21:29

My son had HFM and the body spots look like his but your DD's is much more severe on the face. He did have a temp of 40 but wasn't sick. I would monitor very carefully and seek out of hours help if necessary

Bostonbullsmumma · 12/10/2021 21:35

My DC had a really bad case of HFM similar to the photos. He also had impetigo at the same time (massive scab on his arm) then had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics so was covered!! I went to see the GP twice in one day as I was so worried. Definitely go back if you are concerned.

Inthesameboatatmo · 12/10/2021 21:37

Bubba needs to be seen in hospital hunny no two ways about it don't wait. Get there ASAP .

ew1990 · 12/10/2021 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wineandroses3 · 12/10/2021 21:41

Oh my poor little baby , I’m not medical but if that was my baby we would be straight to A&E , you just can’t take chances with a baby. You need to get her checked and I would not be leaving it until the morning! Hope baby is ok xx

TaraR2020 · 12/10/2021 21:49

I agree that you ought to take her to A&E, op, with the risk of dehydration if nothing else but also given that she's suspected of an immune deficiency.

Regardless of what gp thinks, if she does have an immune deficiency you'll know how nasty it could get. Flowers

blackstripe · 12/10/2021 21:51

Exactly the same as my DC's hand foot and mouth. Had it a few weeks ago, it's rife. I'd put money on it. Started with projectile vomiting and a fever, shivering, off food, lethargic. Next day came the rash. It'll pass, OP, just treat the symptoms and give paracetamol for the fever.

user1000000000009 · 12/10/2021 21:51

Has anyone kissed her who's got or recently had a cold sore? Just that on her lip looks like it could be one.

I wouldn't even bother with 111. I would take her to A and E

clareth · 12/10/2021 21:53

Oh poor baby. I think HFM too, my little girl had it around 16 months old also. She was so poorly. Spots everywhere but her face and bottom were absolutely covered. She even lost a couple of toenails when the spots crusted over on her feet, they just peeled off with it :(
Horrible, horrible virus.
I think in your case I would be very mindful of her fluid intake and how little she’s been able to keep down - maybe give 111 or OOH a call for their advice.
Hope that she feels better soon bless her.

blackstripe · 12/10/2021 21:55

100% that's HFM, looking again. It can also present in other areas, not exclusive the hands, feet and mouth. For my DC, bum, nappy area, back of legs, arms.

My biggest concern would be keeping up with fluids. Offer ice lollies. Use a syringe. If you're concerned about dehydration then A&E, but otherwise it's ride it out I'm afraid.

Hope your baby gets well soon!

Sailonby · 12/10/2021 22:00

I would try 111 and probably A&E based on what you have said about her demeanour and medical history. I am not a doctor, but I think your instincts are so important with these nasty viruses. You have nursed her well at home and through high temperatures, but you sound as though you feel this has possibly become different and you need someone to look at her?

ChocAuVin · 12/10/2021 22:02

So sorry to see this Sad Heard of lots of HFM at the moment — a colleague was at Centre Parcs last week and they all came home with it Confused

DeadButDelicious · 12/10/2021 22:13

Looks like HFM to me, DD has it at the moment and the nurse said it was rife and she was seeing loads of cases when we spoke to her. Thankfully it's on its way out now and DD is fine, I'd get your little one seen too ASAP though as it does look bad and she's clearly not herself.

FairyHuck · 13/10/2021 07:26

How are you getting on op? How's your dd?

ljcudd · 13/10/2021 11:40

@FairyHuck

How are you getting on op? How's your dd?
Hi, firstly thanks for all the advice from everyone! We were all packed up to go to a&e last night, but she suddenly started sleeping normally again so we thought we'd assess in the morning. She still looks awful but she drunk some milk today and eaten some food. Nothing like she normally does but a vast improvement.

We've emailed some photos to the drs to reassess if she needs any interventions, and this time have asked for the most senior GP to look at it as the one we normally see is very young and sits there googling things so doesn't fill us with confidence. But she definitely has made some small improvements today!

OP posts:
Jane42321 · 22/11/2021 15:32

Hi OP
Out of interest did you get a diagnosis?
My little girl is exactly like this now.
She got diagnosed with HFMD at the beginning of Nov. Rash was mild but exact same symptoms as you mention with your LO. It all cleared up after about 7 days. A week back at nursery and the same happens again... 40 deg temp, following day spots appearing only this time more spots, even bigger, and still coming out day 4. The ones on her face and bum are awful. They're everywhere other than on her trunk. They're really scabby and shes in so much pain. GP has said its HFMD again and the ones on her face have become infected and turned to impetigo. Shes been prescribed antibiotics 4 times a day and a barrier cream.
Just really wondering how you got on? I've heard other kids being diagnosed with a mix of HFMD and chicken pox! These bugs are really nasty at the moment.
Thanks in advance x

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