Hand foot mouth hell

[Anonymous]

Day 3 of HFM for my 6 year old. Can’t eat or drink due to mouth sores. She also has step apparently and the antibiotic is going as well as you’d think.

Any unknown treatments I could offer her? We’re going to try the maalox/benadryl cocktail our ped recommended.

[Anonymous]

Are you giving her pain relief? Advil and tylenol, cycled, worked well for my kids when they had HFM.

[Anonymous]

Advil religiously, didn't have any tylenol since we prefer advil but just ordered some to try as well.

[Anonymous]

Milkshakes! They saved us when my 4 year old had it. Got some calories in her, soothed her throat, and brought a little joy. She had two a day for a while there.

[Anonymous]

Cepacol antesthetic cough drops. Taste foul but effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cepacol antesthetic cough drops. Taste foul but effective.

They make berry flavored ones now!

[Anonymous]

Mylanta mouth rinse. Popsicles - my kids like outshine.

I’m sorry - It’s becoming much more common among older kids- I’m really surprised maybe related to the COVID daycare shutdown timing this year has been awful for our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Milkshakes! They saved us when my 4 year old had it. Got some calories in her, soothed her throat, and brought a little joy. She had two a day for a while there.

This is a really good idea, assuming your kid can tolerate dairy. If not, try smoothies or non-dairy popsicles. My kid also likes this when she has a fever or anything really uncomfortable -- plop her in front of the TV and give her a bowl of ice cream, milkshakes, popsicles, anything that will soothe her throat.

Also agree with others that you need to keep up with the pain meds. They will work best if you stay on a schedule so you aren't ever chasing the pain. I

[Anonymous]

Ice pops (not citrus flavors) and milkshakes.

[Anonymous]

A zillion popsicles got us through it last week for my 8 year old.

[Anonymous]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry, my 9 year old had a really mild case last week and now I and my 14 year old have much milder cases than that. Hope you get through this and your child feels better soon!!

[Anonymous]

With regards to the strep infection, if the antibiotic isn't working, you need to let your pediatrician know.
My younger DD needed 2 different antibiotics the last time she had strep; the infection didn't respond to the first one.

HFM ran through all of us in my house a few years ago. DH and I actually had it worse than the kids, and I didn't realize that was actually a thing that could knock out an adult. It did. Miserable experience. Push fluids as much as you can, however you can.