toddler has what i thought was a cold sore, but...

[readytobedone]

my 2.5 year old was complaining that her mouth hurt, and i looked at her bottom lip and saw a small white sore. i googled cold sores (because i don't get them, and neither does DH, so i wanted to see what they looked like) and the pictures looked similar to hers so i figured that was what it was.

later in the day, she started complaining her finger hurt, and it has the same kind of sore

i thought that cold sores couldn't be on your fingers? she has at least 2 there. i tried to inspect her all over, and she seemed to have a few raised red bumps on her thighs, but that could just be diaper rash.

any idea what this could be? i plan to call the doctor in the a.m.

there is a chance she has a minor fever (like high 99's), but i can't be sure because the ear thermometer we have is so variable. i know she isn't super sick because she is eating and drinking fairly well, still.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Sounds like she has hand, foot and mouth disease (coxsackie virus) it isnt anything to really worry about and the majority of kids have it by the time they are 5. Me and both kids had it last year. Just like the name says she will have the sores in those spots and possibly up her legs and arms as well.

[readytobedone]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

Sounds like she has hand, foot and mouth disease (coxsackie virus) it isnt anything to really worry about and the majority of kids have it by the time they are 5. Me and both kids had it last year. Just like the name says she will have the sores in those spots and possibly up her legs and arms as well.

ah, okay. i'm pregnant. if i get it, is there any real risk to the baby? i'm freaking out that it might be the chicken pox, and i might get it (even though i had it as a kid and should be immune).

going to google image coxsackie

[ASusan]

Here is some information that I compiled for myself and another mom at
daycare last fall. Take what you want and leave the rest. The XXX is where I had typed the child's name.

1. Coxsackie is a virus that provides immunity once exposed. So, if you
were exposed as a child, chances are you won't get it now as adults, or
XXX won't get it again. (or, if you/she did get it again, the course
would be mild). However, hand, foot, and mouth is a syndrome and can be
caused by a number of viruses; coxsackie is just the most popular. It
would be possible to be immune to coxasackie, but if the HFM is caused
by one of the other viruses, you could come down with it, too. Outbreaks
are more likely in the early fall, and it is highly contagious.

2. Can she rinse or gargle? Have her gargle with warm salt water (made
with sea salt, if you have it). I think 1/2 - 1, tsp in 1 c of water
is the right dosage. (For years, whenever I had a sore throat, I would
make the strongest possible solution and then wonder why it didn't feel
that great. My mom, who is a nurse, got me back on the right track with
the proper dosage.) It will soothe her throat and may help with the
healing.

3. Not specific to the coxsackie virus, but more generally, L-lysine is
a supplement that is good for viral infections. Very useful if you have
canker sores, cold sores or an outbreak of herpes virus. I use it
anytime I have canker sores in my mouth (or those little cracks on the
side of your lips or even after eating too much acidic food). I don't
know what the dosage for a small one would be. Not sure if it comes in
anything other than a tablet or capsule. You can find the dosage for an
adult easily by googling L-lysine and herpes. The dosage for treating
herpes is much higher than the dosage that is recommended on the back of
the bottle.

4. I'm not big lover of medications for infants/children (or anyone, for
that matter), but have you given her Tylenol for the pain or asked the
doc for a script for Tylenol with codeine? (note: this was for a child in severe pain.)

5. Have you thought of chamomlile tea to help her sleep? If she's REALLY
having problems at night, you might consider benedryl. Again, I'm
usually anti-medication, but in this case, I might cave.

This link has a suggestion for a mouth rinse/coating

http://nips.med-web.com/Handouts/Ind.../coxsackie.htm

And, I like Dr Sears stuff. He also has a suggestion for a
mylanta/benedryl mix --

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082600.asp

[readytobedone]

Originally Posted by ASusan

Here is some information that I compiled for myself and another mom at
daycare last fall. Take what you want and leave the rest. The XXX is where I had typed the child's name.

1. Coxsackie is a virus that provides immunity once exposed. So, if you
were exposed as a child, chances are you won't get it now as adults, or
XXX won't get it again. (or, if you/she did get it again, the course
would be mild). However, hand, foot, and mouth is a syndrome and can be
caused by a number of viruses; coxsackie is just the most popular. It
would be possible to be immune to coxasackie, but if the HFM is caused
by one of the other viruses, you could come down with it, too. Outbreaks
are more likely in the early fall, and it is highly contagious.

2. Can she rinse or gargle? Have her gargle with warm salt water (made
with sea salt, if you have it). I think 1/2 - 1, tsp in 1 c of water
is the right dosage. (For years, whenever I had a sore throat, I would
make the strongest possible solution and then wonder why it didn't feel
that great. My mom, who is a nurse, got me back on the right track with
the proper dosage.) It will soothe her throat and may help with the
healing.

3. Not specific to the coxsackie virus, but more generally, L-lysine is
a supplement that is good for viral infections. Very useful if you have
canker sores, cold sores or an outbreak of herpes virus. I use it
anytime I have canker sores in my mouth (or those little cracks on the
side of your lips or even after eating too much acidic food). I don't
know what the dosage for a small one would be. Not sure if it comes in
anything other than a tablet or capsule. You can find the dosage for an
adult easily by googling L-lysine and herpes. The dosage for treating
herpes is much higher than the dosage that is recommended on the back of
the bottle.

4. I'm not big lover of medications for infants/children (or anyone, for
that matter), but have you given her Tylenol for the pain or asked the
doc for a script for Tylenol with codeine? (note: this was for a child in severe pain.)

5. Have you thought of chamomlile tea to help her sleep? If she's REALLY
having problems at night, you might consider benedryl. Again, I'm
usually anti-medication, but in this case, I might cave.

This link has a suggestion for a mouth rinse/coating

http://nips.med-web.com/Handouts/Ind.../coxsackie.htm

And, I like Dr Sears stuff. He also has a suggestion for a
mylanta/benedryl mix --

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082600.asp

thank you! i do think it's hand, foot, mouth. we're gonna call the doc in the morning.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Did you call the Dr. or go in?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I will also say that it sounds like Coxsackie. We had it go through my childrens daycare twice this year. DS2 came down with it when he was 6 months. It actually wasnt that bad.

FWIW, chicken pox usually start around the torso, (Chest, stomach, back) and branches out from there. (Although It can start on the face) And if you had it as a child, you should be immune. Chances are you were also exposed to coxsackie as a child, and might have immunity to that as well, as long as the virus your daughter has is the same one you had. Sometimes we can be exposed to something, never really show symptoms, especially if we are really little, but still develop immunity.

GOod luck!

[Fi'sMom]

I am so thankful to have just found this thread! My 20 month old daughter was just diagnosed with herpes tonight. The past few days she's had a fever, no appetite, drooling and tons of clinginess and crankiness. I thought she was just teething until we noticed white sores all over the inside of her mouth. She also has a few red sores on her leg and chin. The doctor saw her right away tonight and said that's what it is, and that she probably picked it up from someone else recently. She also said there's really nothing we can do - that she has to ride it out. Poor thing is in so much pain... It's breaking my heart. I can't believe how common it is in kids!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Herpes is not hand foot and mouth those are 2 different things. Coxsakie is a common childhood illness while herpes is not to my knowledge that common in children (could be wrong on that part)

[ASusan]

both herpes and coxsackie are viruses that cause sores in the mouth. L-lysine is an amino acid that is necessary in cellular turnover and repair. It is necessary for mouth repair especially because cells on the tongue, lips, and inner surfaces of the mouth mucosa turn over very rapidly - you go through a lot of the amino acid very quickly while trying to heal sores in this area. L-lysine may be good for helping the immune system deal directly with viruses.

I was not trying to suggest HFM was caused by herpes, only pointing out the similarities and how HFM may respond positively to increased l-lysine, as herpes does.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by Fi'sMom

I am so thankful to have just found this thread! My 20 month old daughter was just diagnosed with herpes tonight. The past few days she's had a fever, no appetite, drooling and tons of clinginess and crankiness. I thought she was just teething until we noticed white sores all over the inside of her mouth. She also has a few red sores on her leg and chin. The doctor saw her right away tonight and said that's what it is, and that she probably picked it up from someone else recently. She also said there's really nothing we can do - that she has to ride it out. Poor thing is in so much pain... It's breaking my heart. I can't believe how common it is in kids!

Your post confuses me. You say your child was diagnosed with Herpes, but that she has sores on her leg too? You cant get herpes on your leg. And cold sores are generally on the outside of the mouth. INSIDE the mouth is canker sores or coxsackie. I would be secoind guessing the diagnosis. Does she have swollen and/or bleeding gums?

Herpes Simplex is more common in small children they people realize. They immune systems are still so new that if they are exposed to the Herpes Simplex virus (aka, cold sore, which is exactly what happened to my son via my mother) and they already are under the weather with something like a cold (which my son was) the outcome can be very unpleasent. When they catch it and are this small, the inital outbreak can be exscrutiating. My sons wasn't as bad as some cases I saw online, but it was bad enough that I just felt awful for him. He had two ginormous "pimples" between his nose and upper lip, somehow had a canker sore in the back of his throat (Still dont know what that was) and his gums were sooo swollen and bleeding, he could barely drink, no WAY could I brush his teeth, and he could not eat much of anything because it hurt so bad. Valtrex is what my pedi gave him, liquid form, banana flavor. I honestly think it helped for his initial outbreak to not be as bad as some of those images I saw online (and still can't get out of my head!)

[Nature]

During the initial outbreak of Herpes Simplex 1, there are sores on the insides of the mouth. It can cause high fevers, sore throat, headaches, upset stomach, vomiting, and generally look like the flu. You also can get cold sores on the outside of your mouth, and rarely on your face.

You can get herpes on other parts of your body, in particular you can spread herpes 1 to your genitals, eyes, or through an open wound. In children who suck their thumbs or chew their fingernails or cuticles, this is so common it has its own name. Its called Herpetic Whitlow.

The virus gets into the wound and the finger can swell up with fluid, turn colors, and/or get small cold sore looking things clustered together. Either way it will eventually drain. Herpetic Whitlow is very painful. Keep it covered with a bandage and finger split and remember that the fluid is infectious. After it drains it will feel better, and most likely by them the child will feel better because the fever and other symptoms have subsided.

Be warned, when you take off the bandage the skin might be parboiled and white and wrinkly.

I know all this because my daughter was diagnosed with having her first initial Herpes 1 outbreak... and Herpetic Whitlow only a few days ago. I didn't even connect her fevers and sickness with her black swollen finger because I didn't realize what the signs of a herpes infection were. She did complain about pain in her mouth but again, I only thought it was a cancer sore.

So to the original poster, it does sound like she is having her initial herpes outbreak and herpetic whitlow.