In August 2009 my toddler and I flew from DFW to the Ontario Airport in Southern California. We were going to spend time with my family. Not long after arriving, Jessie started acting not like herself. We didn’t know what the problem was, so we decided to take her to the doctor.
I found an urgent care with a pediatrician. My mom, sister, and I took Jessie. The facility was fine, but the pediatrician was not. She didn’t interact well with Jessie at all and told me that she had herpes in her throat. This was not a diagnosis I wanted to hear. I did some online research about herpes in the throats of toddlers. It wasn’t an entirely implausible diagnosis, especially considering we didn’t know her family medial history. Still it didn’t sit right with any of us, so we scheduled an appointment with my parents’ neighbors’ pediatrician. This pediatrician was so kind to Jessie and after looking at her hands, feet, and throat, diagnosed her as having Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD).
HFMD is a virus that usually strikes children younger than ten, but can affect adults. Its characteristics are rash on the hands and feet, blisters in the mouth, fever, and sore throat. Jessie’s being not herself and seeming unwell is also a symptom. Some children get the rash and no mouth sores, while others experience the opposite. Most sufferers are the most contagious during the first week. Others can be carriers with no symptoms. Since HFMD is a virus, antibiotics will not help. The patient can use a mouth numbing spray to help ease the pain of the sores. Fluids and rest provide the most help in healing. There is no vaccination against HFMD.
Now that Jessie has had HFMD, she should not get it again.