Surviving Daycare Diseases

Dude, what is up with Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease? I had never heard of this back in the day when I was a kid. These days you can't seem get away from it. I've heard many Mainers say they've run into this summer-fall illness. So what is H-F-M, who can get it, and how can you try to stay away from it?

My 2-year-old came home from daycare a couple weeks ago with a fever, sore throat, and headache. We were warned by the workers that other kids had Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease at daycare. Days later the blisters showed up on Bubbs' feet, palms of his hands, around his mouth, on his earlobes, and rear-end. Then eventually some on his arms & legs. On top of that he got a bad cough and ear infection, which supposedly aren't related to H-F-M Disease.

This illness usually shows its ugly self the worst in children age 5 and under. However, adults can get the symptoms too, but usually without the blisters or spots. And lucky me - I caught it from Bubbs, hence the reason I missed 3 days of work last week.

My daughter had a 103 fever Saturday, complaining of a sore throat and ear ache. It wasn't until Tuesday when the spots started showing up, confirming my suspicion that she had in fact caught H-F-M. But by that time her fever and sore throat were gone.

Still want more information? The CDC's website is always a good resource. I also found this website that I think has more in-depth information about it.

Once again - wash your hands as often as possible, especially when in contact with young kids. And for Pete's sake stop eating your kids' leftovers!