Does Harvynna have HFM?

When we went out for birthday dinner last weekend, Harvynna felt down and hurt her lip, but it was just a bruise and it turned red. A couple of days later, the bruise turned into a blister and hurts her. Yesterday, when I took the girls out for dinner, she told me that she cant eat because her tongue hurts. Apparently, the maid at the babysitters house told her that there are 'bengkak' on her tongue.

I checked her tongue and saw about 3 sores on it and she finds it difficult to eat. In the meantime, she had fever for 2-3 days especially at night and a cough, which I thought she had caught from Rowena. She was also tired and wanted to sleep early all the time which is really unusual with her.

I checked her hands and feet and her whole body but there was nothing there. So I am wondering if it is HFM as she does have the symptoms. Or is it from the fall?

I took this except from the ever famous Dr Greene and this is what he says:

(I highlighted in green what I can see in her)

Introduction:A miserable child who has lost interest in eating solids? Perhaps the child has hand-foot-mouth disease.

What is it?

Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common childhood illness featuring mouth sores,

fever, and a rash. Similar-sounding “foot-and-mouth disease” is a disease of cattle and is not related to this condition.Hand-foot-mouth disease is usually caused by a virus called coxsackievirus A16. However, many children with coxsackievirus A16 infections do not have all of the features of hand-foot-mouth disease. Some have no rash, some have no mouth sores, and some even have no fever. A variety of other viruses in the Enterovirus family can also cause hand-foot-mouth disease (the coxsackieviruses are enteroviruses).

Who gets it?

This disease is most common among young children but is seen with some frequency up until puberty. Adults can get it, but this is much less common. Once people have had coxsackievirus A16 they are generally immune, but they could get another case of hand-foot-mouth disease from one of the other, less common viruses. Most infections occur in the summer or early fall, with the peak between August and October in the northern hemisphere.

What are the symptoms?

Children with hand-foot-mouth disease usually start to feel crummy 3 to 7 days after they were exposed. Often, the first thing parents notice is their children’s decreased appetite for solids. Children may also have a fever and a sore throat. A day or two later, many children develop sores in the mouth. They begin as small red spots on the tongue, gums, or mucous membranes. They may blister or form ulcers.A skin rash may also develop over a day or two, with flat or raised red spots. Unlike with many rashes, the spots are often found on the palms and soles. Also, it is common to have the rash on the buttocks. Often, the red spots will form tender blisters (although not on the buttocks). Unlike with chickenpox, the rash does not itch.Usually the rash disappears and the child feels better within about 1 week.

How is it diagnosed?Usually the diagnosis is made based on the history and physical exam. Lab tests are available for the coxsackieviruses and other enteroviruses, but they are not usually necessary. Hand-foot-mouth disease is sometimes confused with strep throat, which can also begin with a fever and sore throat. It is sometimes mistaken for chickenpox because they both have blisters. It might be confused with any of the childhood exanthems. Also, many children with hand-foot-mouth disease are diagnosed with ear infections because the eardrums may appear red.

How is it treated?

Antibiotics do not help with hand-foot-mouth disease. The important issues are pain relief and plenty of fluids. Cold liquids and popsicles can be soothing for a child’s sore throat.