Poor little Andrew was diagnosed with Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease on Tuesday by his pediatrician. It was the worst news I could ever hear! It can't be real! I mean, he is cared for a home and hasn't come in contact with any other children because he doesn't go to playground and anything like that! Unless... shopping malls? Restaurants? Gawd, my heart sank when I heard those words!
It all started with Andrew's body feeling a little warm after dinner and after shower, he was SHIVERING!!! I checked, he's having fever of 38C. Hubs and I bought tickets for a movie and sis helped to watch his body temp. I told her if it hits 40C, just head to A&E. I put Andrew to sleep and left. After the movie, came back, it's 39.6C. Hubs said to pack up and go to A&E. Partly because we have no Paracetamol at home so best that we get the prescription and the only way to get it is A&E at 1am!!!! We drove to the TMC and the MO on duty gave checked on Andrew and gave him a suppository immediately and prescribed a 6-hourly paracetamol. We went home and Andrew's body temp was brought down to about 38C.
On Sunday, Andrew woke up for milk at about 8am. Made his usual 8oz of
milk. While drinking half way, he vomited everything out. And looked
like as if more than 4oz came back up!!! It was scary. I moved him to
his side and he continued a bit more. There was even milk coming out of
his nose!!!
For the whole day, he refused to eat anything. The only thing he had was Apple juice! And he had the most juice in a day!!! Other than that, nothing. He even refused porridge at night. Though out the day, his fever remains at 38ish. We continue with the suppository and paracetamol.
On Monday, the fever went down to about 37C. And he had milk in the wee morning and then at 10am. We were in KL and so we travelled back to JB, checking on his fever all the time. Andrew seems to be tired and sleep through most of the journey. By evening, his fever seems to have subsided but once it's close to the 6 hour mark, his fever would creep back up.
When it's time for his evening shower, I realised he has red dots appearing all over his limbs. It's not at an alarming amount but enough to know that it's not insect/mosquito bites!!
Tuesday morning I checked his body... NO WAY! More dots! And it's only confined to his hands and legs. It worries me. If it was roseola, it would have been all over his body not just his limbs... By now, his fever has subsided even without meds! So we went to the pediatrician to seek consultation.
To my horror, the doctor said HFMD after checking his arms and legs and confirmed it after checking his throat - It was a horrible sight!
Nothing much can be done, except to continue giving him paracetamol plus cataflam - both meds working together to bring down the fever and pain relief. We were given a throat spray that will help numb the throat so Andrew can eat.
Doctor told us to monitor his liquid intake and making sure that he
drinks more than 500ml a day or he will be admitted for dehydration! NO
WAY!!!
By Tuesday, Andrew's appetite improved and he had a mantou for lunch then rice and soup for dinner. To make sure he drinks lots of liquid, APPLE JUICE is the life saver.
By Wednesday, he looks much better. The dots are disappearing fast and
his appetite is getting better. He drank his usual amount of milk and
managed to eat his solids for lunch.
By night, he is having his usual amount of rice and soup plus a whole nectarine! His usual happy active self is back!
Today, Thursday, I can hardly see the dots anymore!!! I've stopped all medication by today and he seems
to be alright.
So today, I let him enjoy his dinner!
It all started with Andrew's body feeling a little warm after dinner and after shower, he was SHIVERING!!! I checked, he's having fever of 38C. Hubs and I bought tickets for a movie and sis helped to watch his body temp. I told her if it hits 40C, just head to A&E. I put Andrew to sleep and left. After the movie, came back, it's 39.6C. Hubs said to pack up and go to A&E. Partly because we have no Paracetamol at home so best that we get the prescription and the only way to get it is A&E at 1am!!!! We drove to the TMC and the MO on duty gave checked on Andrew and gave him a suppository immediately and prescribed a 6-hourly paracetamol. We went home and Andrew's body temp was brought down to about 38C.
For the whole day, he refused to eat anything. The only thing he had was Apple juice! And he had the most juice in a day!!! Other than that, nothing. He even refused porridge at night. Though out the day, his fever remains at 38ish. We continue with the suppository and paracetamol.
On Monday, the fever went down to about 37C. And he had milk in the wee morning and then at 10am. We were in KL and so we travelled back to JB, checking on his fever all the time. Andrew seems to be tired and sleep through most of the journey. By evening, his fever seems to have subsided but once it's close to the 6 hour mark, his fever would creep back up.
When it's time for his evening shower, I realised he has red dots appearing all over his limbs. It's not at an alarming amount but enough to know that it's not insect/mosquito bites!!
Tuesday morning I checked his body... NO WAY! More dots! And it's only confined to his hands and legs. It worries me. If it was roseola, it would have been all over his body not just his limbs... By now, his fever has subsided even without meds! So we went to the pediatrician to seek consultation.
To my horror, the doctor said HFMD after checking his arms and legs and confirmed it after checking his throat - It was a horrible sight!
Nothing much can be done, except to continue giving him paracetamol plus cataflam - both meds working together to bring down the fever and pain relief. We were given a throat spray that will help numb the throat so Andrew can eat.
By Tuesday, Andrew's appetite improved and he had a mantou for lunch then rice and soup for dinner. To make sure he drinks lots of liquid, APPLE JUICE is the life saver.
to be alright.
