[MR] Child Illness warning from Challenge of the Heart

[Kerri Martinsen]

Greetings unto the populace of Atlantia, especially those with children that
attended Challenge of the Heart on Saturday.

2 weeks ago on Wednesday, my 3 year old daughter was exposed to Hand Foot
and Mouth Disease.  It is a childhood viral illness in the same vane as
chicken pox (some people get it, some people don't, and everyone is a little
different)

The incubation period is 5-7 days with symptoms leading in with a fever and
resulting in small blisters on the hands and feet and oral sores.  Since it
had been 10 days I believe it would be safe to bring her to the event.

My daughter began showing blisters on the bottom of her feet and a mild sore
throat on Monday (today).  She has had no fever and her personality is not
altered (she isn't acting sick).  I have not shown any symptoms, but I am
assuming that I am a carrier as I have been everywhere she has been.

For more specific information, please see the following web pages:

    http://dermnetnz.org/viral/hand-foot-mouth.html

    http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

    http://www.drgreene.com/21_1103.html

    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000965.htm

The best prevention for getting it is washing your hands often and avoiding
oral contact.  Antibiotics are not helpful.  It must just run its course.
One site said that the virus may be transmitted up to 2 weeks after all
symptoms are gone.

I know my daughter drank from 2 water bearer bottles that the older children
were passing around.  She also sucks her thumb constantly, so the
possibility of salvia transfer does also exist.  She did NOT participate in
the children's corner activities.  We did NOT stay for feast.

I apologize in advance for the situation, but this seemed to be the quickest
way of letting the most people know about the situation.

Again, it is not a serious illness, just an uncomfortable one and an
annoyance to working parents in daycare positions.  The CDC has no
recommendations on daycare attendance, other than when the virus is active.

Please cross post as necessary.

My humble apology,


Lady Hrosvitha von Celle
Kerri Martinsen