Hand foot and mouth disease and MCNs

[L J]

Hello Ladies

DD (21 mths) has just developed hand foot and mouth disease. The information I'm reading online says she is contagious until her blisters dry up (about 7 days, could be longer) but her faeces can stay contagious for "several weeks".

The virus is found in the child's poo, and can still be there for several weeks after the child has recovered. Careful hygiene practices are always needed in child care centres and at home

So what to do - do I switch her to sposies for "several weeks" (how long really?), do I change my washing practices for "several weeks"?? She goes to child care 2 days a week, I send MCNs with flushable liners, do I keep doing that or switch her to sposies for child care for "several weeks" - any ideas?

I'm in Melbourne and there is bugger all sun currently. Our current washing practices are 40 deg wash with Ecostore powder, and dry on airer inside. I can put the nappies outside by day for some UV (I know there is some even if the sun isn't shining) but is that enough. What would you do?

Many thanks
Lou

[~Miss Cinders~]

Hmmm there is another thread somewhere... I'll see if I can find it for you

[jimmysmummy]

Someone else's son had HFM recently- hopefully they can give you some advice.

James had a staph infection recently, and I gave the nappies a bit of dettol in the rinse cycle. I think you can use tea tree oil instead.

HTH

[~Miss Cinders~]

Hmmm can't find it... now I'm wondering if it was on another forum As the PPsaid, dettol or canesten rinse in the final rinse I'm sure was the advice given.
And lots & lots of sun

[Tea Lady]

I'm not sure Dettol rinse would make much difference, as it's anti bacterial and HFM is a virus. Most viruses don't live for long away from the body... maybe washing and drying is enough. I think the careful hygiene practices they're talking about are prob more about handwashing etc than viruses remaining in the nappies.

You prob won't catch it (most adults have had it) and unless someone who hasn't caught the virus before is handling her nappies i wouldn't worry too much about them.

[melchpeppi]

My little fella just got over HFM about a month ago, I just switched to sposies and limited his time out of the house. He had contact with a couple of other kids but they had it too .

It really isnt anything to overly concern yourself with - its yukky and yep very uncomfortable for babies but it is really really common, most kids have come in contact with it (it was likely that my older DD was the carrier, from Kindy )

So just keep up the paracetamol when there is a fever, lots of very soft and cool food (non acidic is best, so yoghurts, banana smoothies, oats, soft bread - we use light rye) until bub is happy again.

Hugs, if you have any questions just ask away

[Ladybird]

My DS had HF&M when he was about 12months. I don't think I did anything special to his nappies.

I normally wash at 40 deg and sun dry.

[TwoLittleMen]

DS had HFM when he was about 7 months and the doctor didn't say anything about his nappies

I just washed and used them as normal! He only had a very minor case, and lasted only 6-7 days. It's a virus so it's not going to last long away from the body, I reckon by the time you've washed and dried the nappies they will be fine .

[mummygeorgie]

I didn't do anything special with Alastair's nappies when he had HF&M didn't know I was supposed to. That was a couple of years ago. i suppose I probably used liners where i didn't usually, cos I was using barrier creams cos of the sores on his bottom. So then I possibly washed at 60 instead of 40 cos of the cream.

But yeh, it's not like staph, I don't think it'll be a big deal. I also agree that the hygiene practices more likely refers to handwashing.

[Infinity]

from my research there is about seven different kinds of HFM and once you have had one kind you will never get it again. so your kids could potentially get HFM about seven times!
i just hot washed the nappies for a week or two while my two girls had HFM. we didn't see any other children while the blisters were present and only ventured out of the house after they were cleared up.

Infinity