Hi,

My 17 month old started refusing to eat on Saturday and I assumed it was teeth again as he always goes off his food. Anyway, I noticed he had mouth ulcers which seemed strange. The today I notived little blisters on his hands, doctor confirmed it is hand, foot and mouth. I find doctos can be so dismissive when you are concerned about lack of eating/sleeping. Has anyone else experienced this, how long until he is back to normal. He was up all night last night and has already woken twice tonight already despite having mediced. I am not sure if it is hunger or pain, he drank 14 oz milk before bed but apart from 6oz this morning that is it, not one mouthful of food. !!!!!

Any help, ideas to get him to eat, experiences of this all appreciated.
Thanks
Niki

Hi Niki,

Joshua had this back in february, he caught it from nursery. Its not nice for them is it!? Joshua had to stay off nursery for a week as its contagious (sp) I think once the blisters begin to dissapear its nearly gone. Joshua went off his food and was really tired all the time. Hope youre ok, I was exhausted by the time he got over it cos of the sleepless nights!

Keep him cool and hydrated, take him out for a walk in the day if you can and keep his hands as clean as you can and his boy bits lol!

Hope this helps a bit xxx

HI Vicky,

Thanks so much for your message, its awful he is so hungry, but scared to eat becasue it hurts so much. How long did the ulcers last ?

Niki

Hi, Alice has had this twice despite the dr telling me that onece they have had it they are immune, its not nice, all you can do is give calpol/nurofen and let it run its course. hope he feels better soon. xx

Yeah hayley is right unfortunately it will just run its course- Joshua had the ulcers for about a week, I just kept him dosed up with calpol to help him sleep. How's you lo feeling today, does he have many blisters? xxx

Hiya my eldest Timothy had this last year,again the GP said nothing could be done just to let it clear up on its own, dont remember exactly how long it took but dont think it was more than about a week. I was lucky it was more his feet and hands that were affected rather than his mouth so he didnt seem bothered by it. x

Thanks all, i tried calpol and anbesol 1/2 hour before lunch bit he still wouldn't eat, he's terrified of anything in his mouth now :-(. He is not too bad in himself, bit clingy and teary now and then but to be expected I guess. He is also tired form lack of sleep, he's not the only one ! Fingers crossed he should start to eat again by the end of the week, then sleep will follow.