Hand Mouth and Foot Disease/virus

salt - ouch! try cool oatmeal baths and popsicles. it goes away pretty quickly. I think it is more traumatic on the parent than on the baby - my son had it last year when he was 13 months - we were on a camping trip. he had a sore on his thumb - which he couldn't then suck and on his tongue, so he couldn't eat. But then it just goes away. Give tylenol to releive the pain and get lots of rest (you!)

I don't know if sea salt is less painful than regular salt, but if not than ouch! You can't clear the sores up any faster with a remedy, they are caused by a virus and have to run their course. Check with your ped, but a mixture of benedryl and maalox (1/2 tsp of each) given before meals may help to coat the sores and make it less painful to eat. Otherwise ibuprofen is best for pain, fluids to prevent dehydration, and let her eat if/when she wants. Avoid acidy things like Orange juice and let her suck on some popsicles if she wants or icecream. Cold will feel good. This is totally going around right now, just let it take its course and treat the symptoms.

I think you can take tylenol and motrin together to help with pain.

Ask your Dr/pharmacist about this concoction...
Children's liquid benadryl and mylanta, mix about 1 tsp each
and dab on sore areas in mouth with q-tip. It worked pretty well for our son. good luck!

My son just had this last week. He's 20 months old, but doesn't like ice cream and I couldn't get him to try popsicles. We dosed him with Tylenol or Motrin, usually Tylenol during the day because at every 4 hours we could give it a little bit before meals and Motrin to get him through the night better. His fever was short, only a couple days, but the pain lasted a couple days longer. He was much better by 4 days out. He was willing to drink water and diluted juice (no orange, and some he still found too acidic). Frankly, he didn't eat very much for a few days. Bananas were a mainstay, some oatmeal, soft foods. It will run it's course. The salt water shouldn't hurt, but I don't think it will help either, the virus just has to run it's course and the body will fight it.

Definitely ask your pediatrician about "Magic Mouthwash". It's a compounded solution that includes a painkiller and the kids can swish and spit or swish and swallow. It offers good relief from painful mouth sores. Our pediatrician gave us a prescription for our daughter it was worked miracles. She was much more comfortable after taking it and the sores seemed to heal quicker.

Hi C.:

Have you consulted the nurse or doctor you have? Did they give her a prescription? Have you gone to the pharamcist at a local Walgreens to see what they can give you or suggest? If so, then try cool water compresses with "cotton" balls only (no towels) to try and sooth her. Eliminate the sea salt for a while unless it is completely necessary to add this. Make sure the air in the home is cool too.

My son has had it three times...Motrin every 6 hours and soft, non-acidic foods like vanilla pudding and vanilla ice cream. I would suggest stopping the salt. The virus just has to run its course. I hope she feels better soon. The painful part should only last a couple more days.

Good to hear she's already better! Just a quick add: our pediatrician said we could use Maalox...put it on a q-tip and dot it on the sores if the child was too young to gargle/swish it and then spit out.