Hand-Foot-And-Mouth

Tuesday we found out that  antibiotics Avery was taking to help clear up his ear infection hadn't helped so we switched antibiotics. Tuesday night was rough, you could hear the pain in his voice as he cried. He and I ended up sleeping in the chair in his room. Wednesday he spent the day with my mom and was much better, except a rash appeared on legs and butt. He had a rash last week Thursday (on his arms) and Sunday (on his face) both went away the same day but to be on the safe side I called his doctor. Even though she didn’t think it was a reaction to the  antibiotics, we changed anyway. This morning after a semi-good night sleep Avery headed back to daycare, almost his normal self, just a little rash on his face.

Happy boy ready to go back to daycare
(you can sort of see the rash by his mouth)

When I dropped him off there were two new contagious illness posters up in his room, one for Strep and the other for Hand-foot-and-mouth disease. There are two cases of each in his room. And I am pretty sure a third now can be added to the Hand-foot-and-mouth club. (Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.)  This morning a little after 10 I got a call from daycare that the rash Avery had when I dropped him off turned into blisters/sores, which meant that Avery had to go home.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease can cause fever, sore throat, painful red blister like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside if the cheeks, a red rash on hands, feet and face, irritability, and loss of appetite.

Avery's Foot

Since Avery has had or currently does have everyone one of these symptoms, I am thinking when we see his doctor tomorrow he will get an official diagnosis of Hand-foot-and-mouth disease added to his ear infection. Other then a weak/no voice from crying at night Avery seems to actually be feeling better and there’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth so he can go back to daycare once the blisters go away, hopefully Monday.