Yesterday we were at the pedia because my teenager had a high grade fever last Thursday, and on and off on Friday. Then suddenly, red spots or rashes came out. At first, I thought it was due to the fever and he was hot as lab furnaces. Nah, just exaggerating, but he was so hot, I panicked. If you knew his condition, you’ll panic too.
Anyway, soon more rashes came out and spreading, he couldn’t swallow well (even water) plus he has sores inside his mouth. So, we decided to pay the doctor a visit. I had a hunch but would like to be sure coz I told my husband, if I am right, it’s contagious.
When we were in the doctor’s clinic, I heard the doc mentioned to a patient about HFMD or Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and that she had seen several patients with the same disease already. So, that means, it’s spreading in the same area as mine.
And.. I was right, my son has HFMD. He was given meds for the itch and sores/rashes but he has to be isolated coz it’s highly contagious. It’s actually the saliva that has the virus. It spreads when you talk or sneeze or cough, basically when you open your mouth. If you touch your mouth or anything that has your saliva on it, then you touch another part of your body, then it will spread. This goes the same when you touch things and you have the virus on your hands.
So now, he’s sulking in his room and getting bored as time passes by. I have a 5 year old and he needs to be protected. He can’t go to school because he might pass this on to another child. But, one thing is clear, he got this outside, in school or the van service, coz that’s where he was at this week. I just hope that it never spreads somewhere else and more kids will be affected.
You should learn more about this disease, so you can protect your family and friends. I’ll be doing another post re HFMD coz this is really something we need to be aware of.