Hand, foot and mouth disease with eczema times two.

19/10/2011 by spindlygiraffe.

I read the end of my last post.  James had just gone to bed shivering and then been really hot.  In the morning he was fine and trotted off to school.  He came out saying he felt much better than the day before too.

Arrived home and he took his socks and shoes off straight away and sat scratching at his feet.  He doesn’t have eczema on the soles of his feet - yet.  It looked bumpy and red, but not a problem.

On Monday I had asked the chemist if I should put anything on my daughter’s hand as it looked much worse than when she saw the doctor.  He said just a barrier cream.  On Tuesday it had spread further, more infected.   My Mum had recommended something, so I went to a different chemist.  They saw her hands and recommended not using the suggested stuff. By night she had a bit on her feet too.

Last night both children ended up with a dose of calpol.  James was up with incredibly itchy feet.  This morning, his eczema was much worse (despite trying to blast it last night with elocon) - raised, inflamed and infected.  His feet had red spots and his hands were blistered.  There was also a rash on his face not like his usual eczema.  Great, school photo day!

I was going to take the kids early to school for their photo.  Instead I booked a double GP appointment.  Confirmed both.  Daughter got more fucidin.  I did not know what to put on James’ skin.  Lucky I asked as she said not to use the steroid creams as they would basically feed the viral infection.

School - can he go or can’t he?  Doctor said no, but read the official guidance and said there was no reason to keep him off.  School were more hesitant.  I took them round for the photo when the other kids were not there.  The Head’s own children had had it and she was fine about him coming back tomorrow.  The secretary less sure.

The problem is, it is contagious.  So obviously it would make sense to keep him off, however, he could be contagious for several weeks.  Selfishly I want to see his class assembly on Friday afternoon.  I can already feel the burning eyes of other parents as they know ‘it is him’.  The damage is done already though, he has probably been contagious for a while.  The doctor has seen quite a lot of people with it lately.

He feels ok in himself, but is tetchy and more emotional.   I am hoping it does not turn into eczema on his feet but disappears as quickly as it came.  I developed eczema on my foot after cutting it on a rusty nail.  It took 12 years to get rid of it on my foot. Hope my daughter is ok too, it started in a little patch of her eczema.

Posted in Children and Eczema, General | 2 Comments »