Just when Francis and I thought that 2025 flew by without a major health scare for our little one, enter Sprout’s first experience with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Phew!

(Long time no see! I’m sorry for not posting here. It’s not that my life has been uneventful. I have been busy. Still am, honestly.)

Today is Tuesday, and my husband took the day off to take Sprout to her pediatrician. Last Sunday, she had a fever with two bouts of vomiting. Yesterday her rashes on her hands and feet first appeared, and last night she was complaining of itchiness in her privates. Francis had dengue in mind because of the fever and the rashes, while I instantly suspected HFMD because my friend’s kid caught one earlier this year. (We also suspected that she inherited our allergies… which is 100% going to happen.) We gave her Calpol and Allerkid for her fever and allergies as first aid. The visit to the pediatrician confirmed my suspicions, and now I took the afternoon off to help Francis look after Sprout.

Here are her HFMD symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Itchiness in her genitals
• Rashes on the hands and feet (and later, around her mouth)

According to our pediatrician, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to HMFD. It’s a common disease, especially for kids who are in daycare or preschool, and is not contagious for adults. With frequent handwashing and preventing ourselves from kissing her on the mouth, we should be OK and can go to work no problem. Our pediatrician prescribed Aciclovir (so expensive!) and Levocetirizine dihydrochloride. I got Calamine lotion for her blisters. I also bought lots of ice pops, juices, and yoghurt for hydration, but she’s not having difficulty eating or drinking so far. Unnecessarily, I bought disposable utensils, too, because I’m one paranoid mama.

Our bigger problem right now is her spreading the disease to other kids. As a Department of Education employee (and the wife of the DRRM Focal Person nonetheless), the first thing I ensured was to inform her teacher that Sprout has HMFD and that it is alright to tell other parents to monitor the other children. Her teacher told me that my daughter is excused from school for 14 days – per school policies. It’s painful to hear, especially now that their lessons (addition) are a bit challenging for Sprout, but it’s better than infecting her whole.class, or worse, causing an outbreak.

Next, I called my sister, because her two kids – seven and six, respectively – are my daughter’s playmates. I also called my mom to tell her that Sprout can’t go to their house for a while until all she’s all well. My niece, who was with Sprout last Sunday, is also experiencing runny nose right now and will not be going to school until she’s clear.

I’m not worried because our pediatrician said there’s no need for hospitalization, and also because a quick Duck Duck Go search yields the same. If you suspect your kid has HFMD and are feeling anxious, check out this article from Cleveland Clinic and see your pediatrician. If anything, me and Francis are concerned that she will not get to memorize the dance steps for their Christmas presentation on December 15.