HFMD

I saw five raised red spots on my baby's bottom. I wasn't alarmed but I still texted my hubby to inform him. He said maybe it's just an ordinary rash. He advised me to let EJ go diaper-free for quite some time. I said uh-oh but of course I didn't

After an episode *wink* I changed EJ's diaper and saw that the five red spots had turned into blisters. Now, this got me real worried already. A friend said, her son and daughter had it a week ago and the baby of her friend also had it. She told me to go see a doctor. Since we got here I haven't brought EJ to the pedia. All his vaccinations are done in Manila. And we brought enough vitamins and first aid medicines just in case he gets sick. Good thing he only had a minor cold since we came

So anyway, I told my husband that we have to see a doctor. There were some red spots seen on his hand and feet. My friend said it definitely was the same what his son had a week ago. They were given a cream and an antihistamine syrup

As soon as my husband arrived from work we immediately went to the hospital. The doctor said that there was an "epidemic". One baby after another has been brought to the hospital with the same symptoms. She said it was a viral infection. Gave us a cream and an antihistamine syrup. Off we went home with a happy and bouncing baby.

I thought the next day all his spots would at least diminish. Poor baby! The spots in the hand and the feet were more than I wanted to count. I panicked...a little. I wanted to bring EJ back to the hospital but somebody told me that the hospital was full of babies with foot and mouth disease (FMD) Gasp. Whhaaaaaattttt??? Is that what my baby had? I panicked some more. This drove me to my most trusted friend google and searched the guilty virus. I found out that it was not FMD. Well, I knew this already but panic mode was on earlier). Anyway, what EJ had was hand, foot, mouth disease (HFMD). And it's totally different from FMD

Apparently, HFMD is a common illness in infants and children. For more info, try googling it =)Nothing to be alarmed, the spots and blisters heal by itself after 4 - 5 days. I just feel sorry for my baby seeing the red spots all over his hands, feet and bottom. I just made sure that the food he ate were cold and soft so he could eat it.

After 5 days, the red spots and blisters were gone. Only then did I breathe properly.



xoxo
Josiet