Figured it Out

Well, I figured out what the mystery fever was in the 2 little boys. They have hand, foot and mouth disease. Not to be confused with hoof and mouth disease of cattle! The doctor actually mentioned that to me the other day when we were at the doctor. Here is what it is...

What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. HFMD begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. One or 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash does not itch, and it is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks. A person with HFMD may have only the rash or the mouth ulcers.

Poor Brodie and Drew both have mouth ulcers and blisters on their hands. I noticed it last night. I have never actually seen this before so it is pretty interesting. So far, they have done ok. They are acting a little fussier but not too bad considering the way their mouths look. Once again they are the ones infected. Pretty soon they should be immune to just about everything!