What would you do if.....

[GuavaGirl]

...a friend that lives out of state, that you haven't seen in 2 years is in a nearby town for a wedding that you're both going to...you had plans to drive to where she is to hang out all day (the day before the wedding) and let our boys play....but then she says...oh by the way, my kid has hand foot & mouth disease, but it's not contagious.  It's only contagious before you get the rash.   ....to which you think...that doesn't seem quite right....and go google it...confirming your assumption that as long as they have the rash, it's still contagious.

What would you do?  

If I don't go tomorrow and hang out, we were still planning on hanging out during the wedding and afterwards in the evening.  I guess I could just let my kid get sick, but we have a beach house trip get-together coming up with 4 other little ones coming along and I don't want to have to cancel that.  Also, we're in the middle of moving and applying/interviewing for jobs.

 Is this a big deal or not a big deal?  Maybe you experienced mom could help me out.   ...but quick!  It's tomorrow morning.

Edited by GuavaGirl - 9/16/11 at 12:41am

[Arianwen1174]

I couldn't read this and not reply, even though my kids are all grown up now. I wouldn't let your little guy get HFMD right now, it's miserable! You'd make it to the wedding but you have so much other stuff going on after that. It would suck to miss spending time with your friend but her son couldn't be feeling all that well anyway if he still has the rash and mouth sores. Both of my guys got it at the same time and they were just so miserable. I'm not convinced it would be worth it for you. He very well may get it at some point but you have so much going on for now. Did I mention that it's miserable? Hope this helps!

[crunchy_mommy]

I hope this isn't too late...

No, I would not just let him get HF&M, I've heard it's incredibly painful!! And I don't think getting it means you acquire total immunity so it's not like it will benefit him in that way (as far as I know).

Is your friend's kid going to the wedding? Because if he is, your kid will be exposed either way.

I would see if you can get together with your friend without the kids -- go out for lunch or something. But that assumes she has a spouse or sitter available to watch the kid. But at least you can offer, so she understands you DO want to see her (just don't want to get sick!)

[GuavaGirl]

So a couple things to add.  Yes they're going to the wedding also.  The other thing is that her kids seems to be at the tail end of it, but from talking to her 3 days ago, he still had a rash and it was creeping up to his face.  ...but that he doesn't have any other symptoms.  I just feel like I'd be one of the those crazy moms if I don't go, since we've been planning this for 6 months.

[goldenwillow]

I can attest that it is painful.  My LO got it from a friend when he was around 14 months.  It was awful. 

[GuavaGirl]

So, am I right in that this little one is probably still contagious as long as there is a rash present?  or is he a lot less contagious because he's at the tail end of it?

[northwoods]

Do you have a family doctor that you trust? I'd call him/her to get an opinion.

[lovepickles]

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

If her child is contagious the child should be isolated. Having a social interaction/vacation is not worth this kind of illness. Reschedule.

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by lovepickles 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

If her child is contagious the child should be isolated. Having a social interaction/vacation is not worth this kind of illness. Reschedule.

I completely agree.  I came back to see what happened and thought... why is your friend even bringing this child to an event!? 

[Lakeeffectsnow]

It is very painful and very contagious.  When my Youngest Son had it, he refused to eat solids for  4 or 5 days and cried every time he nursed.  He weaned himself at 19 months because the sores in his mouth were so painful.  Can you get together with your friend without the kids?

[foreverinbluejeans]

All three of my kids have had it and it wasn't that bad for them. They were lucky. My two oldest got it at the same time. I've got a picture of them smiling with it. The youngest got it when he was a toddler and going into the hospital for something else. The rash broke out while we were getting ready to go to the hospital and I called the doctor. She was like 'right, how can a mother know what it looks like.' Sure enough he had it. They put him in a big 4 bed room by himself so they would have plenty of room to do anything they wanted in isolation. Everyone that came in the room had to do the whole mask and gown thing. Thats how contagious it is. I didn't get it and I was nursing child 2 & 3 when they had it and I have a compromised immune system. I don't know if I had it as a child or if adults don't get it as easily.

[Fly Girl]

I would not take your LO. It's not worth it. I was in a similar situation not too long ago. I was at home (1500 miles from where I live) visiting family and friends and I was supposed to get together with one of my best friends and our kids. Her DS2 got HFM and we had to cancel all of our fun plans for the week. It sucked. She and I got to go to dinner together one night without the kids. But at least my kids didn't get it.