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Original poster

Should you avoid hand foot and mouth?

28 replies

Hfm2020 · 01/07/2022 18:43

Okay probably a stupid question but I'm really not sure. My child has never had it before so I'm not sure how bad it can be?

My friends child has hand foot and mouth but is feeling fine in general, friend has just asked me if my ds wants to come play tomorrow. I've googled and NHS says no need to keep a child of nursery or school, so does that mean it's fine for them to play, like a normal cold? Or should I avoid until he's all better?
Tia.

OP posts:
jevoudrais · 01/07/2022 18:44

I wouldn't go.

Original poster
Hfm2020 · 01/07/2022 18:45

That was my thought but wasn't sure if I was being dramatic, thank you.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 01/07/2022 18:46

I wouldn't. I caught it from DD and it was genuinely one of the most painful things I've ever had.

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Original poster
Hfm2020 · 01/07/2022 18:47

Oh gosh really? I'll definitely say no then.

OP posts:
RedTiledRoof · 01/07/2022 18:47

It made my DC miserable. I’d avoid it like, well, the plague!

BlueSoul · 01/07/2022 18:48

I would avoid this situation. My DS has had hand, foot and mouth twice and on the first occasion he ended up being hospitalised as it was so painful for him to swallow/put anything in his mouth, that we couldn't get sufficient liquids down him. On the second occasion he was less ill but still had a tough few days, which lots of tears re the pain. Perhaps it is a mild illness for some but best avoided IMHO.

Hugasauras · 01/07/2022 18:48

My entire mouth was filled with ulcers and I couldn't eat or even really speak for three days. I was unlucky I think as no one else I know got it so badly, but it really was rotten!

jevoudrais · 01/07/2022 18:49

To caveat we haven't hand HFM yet but I've had 'the fear' when it's done the rounds at nursery due to what I've read about it. Really surprised your friend suggested a play date!

Original poster
Hfm2020 · 01/07/2022 18:49

I'll avoid avoid avoid. It sounds absolutely awful!

OP posts:
clarepetal · 01/07/2022 18:50

My son had it and was fine. I caught it off him and couldn't walk it was so painful!

Selfbuildnewbie · 01/07/2022 18:50

My son was miserable with it for a few days, wouldn’t eat as mouth covered in sores inside, although only 2/3 spots on his face and hands.
He then passed it on to my husband and I and it was horrible. We had the sores in our mouths for over a week and couldn’t eat, we had no spots on the outside.
I would avoid at all costs!

Pen89ox · 01/07/2022 18:57

Yeah my (then) 1 year old wasn’t too bad with it but still had a few days off nursery, so a few days off work and he wouldn’t eat because of the sores in his mouth. Mild (for us) but deffo wouldn’t voluntarily let him play with someone who has it.

BunsyGirl · 01/07/2022 18:57

They are contagious for two to three months after - it’s excreted out via their poo. Just making you aware that it’s not like chicken pox where they are no longer contagious once the spots dry up. That’s why they can go to school and nursery because otherwise they would be off for months!

Justhereforaibu1 · 01/07/2022 18:57

Avoid avoid avoid! Listen to all the wise previous posters! My dd had it very mildly, I got it and had ulcers all over the inside of my mouth and over half my face, it was so so painful

Featuredcreature · 01/07/2022 19:03

The only one of my kids to get it was ds1 and he was utterly miserable. Had to trick him into taking painkillers so he could drink (he was only 2 and would resolutely refuse any kind of medication in general) It was very stressful.

He was the only one to catch it though, nobody else in the household caught it.

PizzaPatel · 01/07/2022 19:05

Agreed - it’s SO BAD!!! My son had it and it didn’t bother him but for me omg - it was like something from the Victorian days. Fever and the grossest rash I’ve ever seen. My hands and feet were on fire - had to sleep with them wrapped in ice packs.

LT2 · 01/07/2022 19:15

It seems to be really mild for some, awful for others. My Nephew passed it on to a few family members. I was the worst. Covered head to toe in the spots (why on earth is it called hand, foot and mouth?.. I had the spots in every nook and cranny!) I didn't sleep for a night or 2 and spent all of one day in the bath. The water was the only way I got some relief. Something I hope never to experience again. I'm not a baby when it comes to illness either.

Shlomping1234 · 01/07/2022 19:17

It's classed the same as chicken pox but id say it's worse. Ds had it around 18 months old and was very unwell with it. His face, mouth and bum were raw. His dad caught it and was unwell and his hands and feet were disgusting. I was pregnant at the time and was very lucky not to catch it.

WindyGlowers · 01/07/2022 19:21

I'd avoid. DD was ok when she had it but I couldn't wear shoes for 3 days with swollen feet and putting my hands in warm water was agony. The icing on the cake was all my toenails falling off Hmm

Giveaschitt · 01/07/2022 19:25

I caught it from my ds when he was very little. He wasn't ill but it was genuinely the most awful painful thing I've ever experienced. I had the blisters in my nose, inside my mouth, as well as on my hands and feet. These pictures of my hands don't even do it justice. The skin then peeled off them afterwards just to prolong the horror!

Original poster
Hfm2020 · 01/07/2022 19:35

Ugh I feel sorry for you all, it looks and sounds horrible.

OP posts:
LtMoose · 01/07/2022 19:56

Avoid! It was the worst illness my son had, he was so poorly, and I'm fairly sure you don't get immune to it and can catch it twice.

Wasywasydoodah · 01/07/2022 20:00

I had it one Christmas and it was awful. My tongue was so swollen and sore. Avoid

curiou · 01/07/2022 20:06

Avoid! My DH caught it and his temperature was absolutely ridiculous!

Lexi334 · 01/07/2022 20:16

Another vote for AVOID 😬 You just never know how badly it’s going to affect you! My DS had it relatively mild compared to others and he was still bloody miserable for ages 😓

No doubt most of them get it at some point through playgroups and nursery etc but I certainly wouldn’t be knowingly going into a house with it!

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