How long does hand, foot and mouth usually last in toddlers?

[Catlady12335678]

Hello,

My little one has caught hand foot and mouth at 20 months and he’s got it bad! Clusters of spots everywhere and he’s itching a lot too. The worst are the mouth ulcers and he’s not eaten for 3 days! It’s hard keeping him hydrated but we’re managing!

He started with loose nappies last week, then at the weekend a snotty nose, Monday a high temp and generally miserable. Tuesday high temp and spots appeared but only fine ones so wasn’t sure what it was… today the big red raised ones have appeared and some seem to blister.

all over his bum bless him 😥

How long does it usually last for, is there anything I can put on the spots and any advice to get him to eat? I’ve bought difflan spray for his mouth but struggling to get it in!

thanks xx

Ahh sorry OP, my son had HFM at 18 months and it was awful, seemed to be a really bad strain as he ended up in hospital and he wasn’t the only one in his nursery that did.

Difflam is the main thing that worked for us, what about ice lollies/ mini milks? To get a bit of sugar in and the ice might help soothe the ulcers. If I remember, it was day5/6 we noticed him turn a corner with his appetite and eat a bit more. Took longer for the spots to go though, like yours he was head to toe in them, all over his bum and everything.

If you can’t get pain relief in him, we ended up getting paracetamol suppositories prescribed which started to take the edge off too.

Hope it passes quickly for him! And also hope you don’t get it, I did and the ulcers in particular were miserable :(