mamanya Dafi
Sun, 12 Nov 2000 18:39:46 -0800
Berikut sumber lain mengenai HFMD, semoga berguna. Mamanya Dafi What is the coxsackie virus? The coxsackie A virus (which gets its name from Coxsackie, New York, the city where the virus was first identified) causes two common but unpleasant childhood illnesses: hand, foot, and mouth syndrome, and herpangina. The virus spreads easily from mouth to mouth, or from feces to hand to mouth, and usually strikes children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. It's highly contagious and easily transmitted through coughing and sneezing. Not surprisingly, outbreaks are common in daycare centers. In very rare cases, the coxsackie B virus can cause meningitis and an inflammation of the heart. What are the signs of coxsackie? Symptoms can vary, depending on which form of the illness a child comes down with and the severity of the case. With hand, foot, and mouth syndrome, your child may have few or no symptoms, or will get small, blister-like sores in his mouth, on the palms of his hands, and on the bottoms of his feet. The sores may also show up on his bottom, and in rare cases on the arms, legs, or face. (Coxsackie should not be confused with chicken pox, which starts out as a rash that looks like "a dewdrop on a rose petal"; that is, a clear water blister on a pink base. These blisters eventually darken and crust over.) Your child will probably be feverish and crankier than normal, and have a sore throat. The sores can be painful, particularly when your child walks. It takes three to seven days for the first symptoms to appear, about three to four days for the fever and discomfort to go away, and a week to 10 days before the blisters disappear. Not all children get the same symptoms — some may have only a rash and a slight fever. The telltale signs of herpangina are painful grayish white blisters in the back of the mouth, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and a sore throat. The ulcers are truly horrifying to look at, and are particularly miserable for your child, who won't be able to eat or drink. Should I call the doctor? Yes, though she won't be able to do much. However, if your child's fever rises higher than 103 degrees F or doesn't subside after four to five days, your doctor will probably want to see him. Dehydration is a concern because your child may not want to drink anything because of the mouth sores. If your child refuses all liquids and is urinating less than usual, definitely call your doctor. How can I best care for my child while he's sick with the virus? If your toddler gets a bad case of coxsackie, you'll have to hunker down and draw on all your parenting and nursing skills. Moms and dads who've weathered bouts of herpangina describe the experience as "hellish," "horrible," and "utterly miserable." Your child will likely be extra clingy and very cranky for several days. The painful sores in his mouth may cause him to reject food and liquids, including milk, so you'll have to make extra sure he doesn't get dehydrated. It may be easier for your child to sip from a cup than a bottle or sippy cup. Cold drinks and Popsicles can ease the pain. If your doctor okays it, acetaminophen can help keep the fever down and ease some of the pain. One way to temporarily numb the pain in your toddler's mouth is to dip a Q-tip in a 1:1 solution of Maalox and liquid Benadryl, then gently coat the inside of your toddler's mouth with the solution. The combination of these two common over-the-counter medicines coats and soothes the sores. (In severe cases,your doctor may recommend adding the prescription medicine mycostatin to the mix.)If your child has a relatively mild illness, you won't have to do much beyond making sure he's taking in enough liquids and food, and watching his temperature. Because your toddler is most contagious before symptoms show up, it's probably too late to prevent the spread of the virus to other children. Still, because your child may be miserable, you'll want to keep him home from daycare until he starts feeling better. Can my toddler get it more than once? How can I prevent it? Yes, your child can come down with it again, but it's rare for anyone to get it more than once. As with colds, your toddler will be immune to the virus he already had, but there are many strains of coxsackie. And also as with colds, you can take precautions such as washing your hands regularly and trying to avoid infected children, but it's impossible to completely prevent a child from catching the illness if he's exposed to an infected person. Can adults get coxsackie? Yes, although it's rare for an adult to suffer to the same extent as a child. Still,if you've never been exposed to the virus before, you may get small blisters on your hands and feet, and feel lousy, too. Although the blisters are small, they are painful. What if I'm pregnant when my toddler comes down with coxsackie? Is the baby at risk? If you are pregnant and are exposed to the virus, the chance your fetus will be affected is very small, but mention it to your OB / GYN. Wash your hands frequently after changing your older child's diapers or tending to your sick child's needs — or wear gloves — to keep your exposure to a minimum. ----end---- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! http://calendar.yahoo.com/ >>>> 2.5 Mbps InternetShop >> InternetZone << Margonda Raya 340 <<<< >> Kirim bunga ke-20 kota di Indonesia? Klik, http://www.indokado.com >> Info balita, http://www.balita-anda.indoglobal.com Etika berinternet, email ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop berlangganan, e-mail ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED]