Hand foot and mouth while pregnant

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a very common illness. It can be very scary for parents because it usually affects young children and often starts with a high fever and a rash. It could also be the name – Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease just sounds like something you really want to avoid!

What is Hand, Foot and Mouth?

Hand foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness. It typically starts with a fever followed by a rash. The rash is most commonly on the chin, mouth and inside the mouth and also on the hands and feet. A rash can also be found in the diaper area. Kids can also experience high fevers and mouth pain that affects their ability to eat and drink.

HFMD usually peaks in summer and early fall and typically affects children who are five years and under. However older children and adults can get it too. One of the frustrating things for parents about HFMD is that it can be caused by different viruses—which means your child could get it again.

What are the symptoms of HFMD?

It usually starts with:

A fever
Decreased appetite
Sore throat
Tiredness or feeling of being unwell

One or two days after the fever starts, painful sores/small red spots can develop in the mouth that can blister and become painful.

A rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may also develop over one or two days as flat, red spots, sometimes with blisters. It may also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area.

Some people, especially young children, may get dehydrated if they are not able to swallow enough liquids because of painful mouth sores. You should seek medical care in these cases.

Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some people, especially adults, may become infected and show no symptoms at all, but they can still pass the virus to others.

How is HFMD diagnosed?

Health care providers can usually identify mouth sores caused by hand, foot, and mouth disease by considering:

Patient age
Patient symptoms
Appearance of the rash and mouth sores

Who is most likely to get HFMD?

HFMD usually peaks in summer and early fall and typically affects children who are five years and under. However, older children and adults can get it too.

Is HFMD Contagious?

Yes. The viruses that cause HFMD can be found in an infected person’s:

Nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus)
Blister fluid
Feces (poop)

You can get exposed to the viruses that cause HFMD through:

Close personal contact, such as hugging an infected person
The air when an infected person coughs or sneezes
Contact with feces, such as changing diapers of an infected person, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands
Contact with contaminated objects and surfaces, like touching a doorknob that has viruses on it, then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands

It is also possible to get infected with the viruses that cause HFMD if you swallow However, this is not very common. This is more likely to happen if the water is not properly treated with chlorine and becomes contaminated with feces from a person who has HFMD.

Generally, a person with HFMD is most contagious during the first week of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away. Some people, especially adults, may become infected and not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to others.

HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

How to stop the spread of HFMD?

Hand, food and mouth is easily passed on to people by a simple cough or sneeze. To reduce the risk spreading HFMD:

Maintain good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing and teach your kids (try singing a song while washing hands to teach them the length of time to wash hands)
Use a tissue to cough or sneeze
Don’t share towels or household items, such as cutlery
Wash soiled bedding and clothes in hot water

How soon can children return to school after HFMD?

Those with HFMD should stay home while they are sick. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are not sure when you should return to work or school. The same applies to children returning to daycare.

Is it dangerous to women who are pregnant?

Although there’s normally no risk to the pregnancy or baby, it’s best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease. If a pregnant woman is infected with HFMD shortly before delivery, there is a chance she can pass the virus to her baby. These babies usually have only mild illness, but in rare cases they may have severe infection.

HFMD is very common and pregnant woman are likely to be exposed at some point in her pregnancy to someone who is infected, especially in the summer and fall. But most pregnant women, like other adults, have immunity (protection) from previous exposures to these viruses. So if she does get infected she will likely not have symptoms or will only have mild illness. Pregnant women without immunity to HFMD viruses have a greater chance of getting infected and having symptoms.

There is no clear evidence that HFMD during pregnancy increases the risk of severe complications like miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital defects.

How is it treated?

HFMD is a virus so antibiotics won’t help. We use Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help kids deal with the pain. There are also some different mouthwashes that have Benadryl and Maalox/Mylanta in them that can be used to help ease the pain for kids who develop mouth ulcers. Be sure to talk with your pediatrician before treating HFMD.

When can my child go back to school or daycare?

As long as your child is fever free, acting normally and doesn’t have draining blisters, she or he is fine to go back to school or daycare. It may take up to 7 days for all of the blisters to dry up.

What should I notice signs of HFMD in my child?

If your child is showing any symptoms of an hand, foot and mouth, please call Building Blocks Pediatrics at (660) 262-7415.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease During Pregnancy: Is It Dangerous?

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Chaunie Brusie on December 10, 2018

Coxsackievirus during pregnancy

Even though I’m a nurse, coxsackievirus is new to me. But it’s in the same family as one virus I know well.

Different strains of coxsackievirus, also known as coxsackievirus A16, are usually the culprit behind hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). That’s a virus most of us have heard of, if not already had the pleasure of dealing with.

Coxsackievirus is actually a type of virus in the enterovirus family. These are common during pregnancy.

Most of the time, the virus doesn’t pose serious danger to you or your baby. But there are a few things you need to know.

Symptoms

Coxsackievirus, in the form of HFMD, is most common in children under the age of 5. But it can occasionally affect adults. The virus is more common in certain parts of the world, such as Asia.

The symptoms of HFMD include:

fever
general feeling of sickness
sore throat
painful mouth sores or blisters
skin rash developing on the elbows, feet, or genital areas

For adults, the virus may not give you any symptoms.

Risk factors

Having the coxsackievirus virus during pregnancy may pose a slight risk to your baby. But that’s only if the virus is able to pass through the placenta. The chance of that happening is very small.

Having the coxsackievirus slightly increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, as is the case with any infection during pregnancy.

HFMD is more risky if the woman acquires the virus near the end of her pregnancy. An infection near delivery carries more risk of stillbirth, or HFMD in the newborn.

There has also been some evidence that the virus is linked to congenital heart defects and other anomalies in babies. But there’s conflicting data on whether or not the virus definitely causes those problems.

Confusing, I know. But the odds are having the virus doesn’t necessarily mean your baby will suffer later on. Which is good news, indeed.

Prevention

HFMD and other conditions caused by the coxsackievirus family are commonly seen in young children. That’s why it’s more likely that you’ll come into contact with the virus while caring for other kids.

If you have other children with HFMD and are pregnant, here are a few tips to help navigate caring for both of you.

Wash hands often. Try to wash your hands after each contact with your child.
Wear a face mask. Some doctors recommend a face mask if your child has a serious runny nose and cough. As any parent knows, that snot is going to get on you, no matter how often you wash your hands.
Don’t pick blisters. It’s very important not to pick at your child’s blisters. Blister fluid can be contagious.
Don’t share. Avoid sharing drinks, toothbrushes, or anything that comes into contact with saliva. The virus lives in saliva, so it may just mean a break from baby kisses for now.
Stay hydrated. Dehydration is always a risk with infections during pregnancy. It can cause other complications like contractions or premature labor. Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t have any symptoms of the virus.

The takeaway

If you develop coxsackievirus during pregnancy, talk to your doctor. The chance of potential risks are small, but do your best to prevent being exposed with careful hand washing and avoid exposure.

Take care of yourself first, and rest assured that you’re doing the best you can to take care of your baby in the process.

Share on Pinterest

Chaunie Brusie, BSN, is a registered nurse with experience in labor and delivery, critical care, and long-term care nursing. She lives in Michigan with her husband and four young children, and is the author of the book “Tiny Blue Lines.”

Last medically reviewed on December 10, 2018

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease. (2017).
cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/signs-symptoms.html
Hand, foot, and mouth disease. (2018).
kkh.com.sg/HealthPedia/Pages/ChildhoodIllnessesHFMD.aspx
Ornoy At, et al. (2006). Pregnancy outcome following infections by coxsackie, echo, measles, mumps, hepatitis, polio and encephalitis viruses.
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623806000207
Yu W, et al. (2015). Coxsackie virus A16 infection of placenta with massive perivillous fibrin deposition leading to intrauterine fetal demise at 36 weeks gestation. DOI:
doi.org/10.2350/15-01-1603-CR.1

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Dec 10, 2018

Written By

Chaunie Brusie

Edited By

Nizam Khan (TechSpace)

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Chaunie Brusie on December 10, 2018

How to behave in childbirth? Learning to give birth quickly and with problems

Childbirth is a natural process, laid down by nature. The whole sequence of events that take place during this period is predetermined, but by your actions you can either speed up the birth of a baby, or complicate his birth.

Childbirth is the final and most important stage of pregnancy. How you behave and how accurately and skillfully you follow the instructions of the obstetrician depends on how you will feel and how quickly your baby will be born. What does a newborn need to know? Let's try to answer the most important questions. nine0003

1. When is it time to go to the maternity hospital?

Childbirth is a natural result of hormonal changes that occur in your body during the final stages of pregnancy. The sagging belly and heaviness in its lower part and the lumbar region speak of the imminent denouement of the story. Periodically, weak contractions occur, the stomach tenses and pulls down, but these sensations quickly pass, the uterus relaxes again and becomes soft. Such contractions are harbingers of childbirth, but they are far from real labor activity. nine0003

The signal to call an ambulance should be sufficiently strong contractions that are repeated at regular intervals, the appearance of mucous secretions from the genital tract, slightly stained with blood, or the outflow of amniotic fluid.

2. First stage of childbirth: we breathe for two!

From the moment the contractions become regular, the first stage of labor begins, during which the strength, frequency and duration of uterine spasms increases and the cervix opens. nine0003

During spastic contraction of the uterine muscle fibers, the blood vessels that carry arterial blood to the placenta and fetus are compressed. The fetus begins to experience a lack of oxygen, and this involuntarily makes you breathe deeper. The reflex increase in the rate of contractions of your heart will ensure the delivery of oxygen to the child. Nature has provided that these processes take place regardless of your consciousness, but you should not completely rely on it.

In the first stage of labor, during each contraction, you need to breathe calmly and deeply, trying not to hold your breath while inhaling. At the same time, the air should fill the upper sections of the lungs, as if raising the chest. You need to inhale through the nose, slowly and smoothly, exhale through the mouth, just as evenly. nine0003

3. Auto-training in the prenatal ward

To speed up the opening of the cervix, you need to walk more, but sitting is not recommended, while blood flow in the limbs is disturbed and venous blood stagnation occurs in the pelvis. From time to time it is useful to lie on your side, stroking your lower abdomen with both hands in the direction from the center to the sides, focusing on breathing and saying to yourself: "I am calm, I am in control of the situation, each contraction brings me closer to the birth of a baby."

4. To relieve pain

Acupressure of the lower back can help relieve pain. Find the outer corners of the sacral rhombus on your lower back and massage these points with clenched fists.

Monitor the frequency and duration of contractions and if they weaken or sharply increase, immediately inform your doctor. In case of severe pain, you can ask for an anesthetic, but you should remember that you should not take the medicine too often, this is fraught with narcotic depression of the newborn and a decrease in his adaptive abilities. nine0003

If dilatation of the cervix causes reflex vomiting, rinse the mouth with water and then drink a few sips to replace the lost fluid. Do not drink a lot, this can provoke a recurrence of vomiting.

5. The maternity ward is not a place for tantrums

They say that difficult childbirth is a person's retribution for walking upright. Childbirth is actually a painful process, but the presence of reason allows us, representatives of the genus Homo sapiens, to control our emotions. Screaming, crying, tantrums and swearing have no place in the maternity ward. This creates a tense environment, interferes with the normal course of childbirth, complicates diagnostic and therapeutic measures, and ultimately affects their outcome. nine0003

6. Second stage of labor - pushing and expulsion of the fetus

After the baby's head slips through the dilated cervix and finds itself on the bottom of the pelvis, the pushing period of labor begins. At this time, there is a desire to push, as it usually happens during a bowel movement, but at the same time many times stronger. At first, the attempts are controllable, they can be "breathed", but by the beginning of the third stage of labor, the expulsion of the fetus, they become unbearable.

With the beginning of the straining period, you will be transferred to the delivery room. Having settled down on the delivery table, rest your feet on the special steps, firmly grasp the handrails and wait for the midwife's command. nine0003

While pushing, inhale deeply, close your mouth, clench your lips tightly, pull the handrails of the delivery table towards you and direct all the exhalation energy down, squeezing the fetus out of you. When the top of the baby appears from the genital slit, the midwife will ask you to ease your efforts. With gentle movements of her hands, she will first release the baby’s forehead, then his face and chin, after which she will ask you to push again. At the moment of the next attempt, the baby's shoulders and torso will be born. After the newborn is born, you can breathe freely and rest a little, but the birth is not over. nine0003

7. Third stage of labor and final

Third stage of labor - afterbirth. At this time, weak contractions are observed, due to which the fetal membranes gradually exfoliate from the walls of the uterus.

About 10 minutes after your baby is born, your midwife will ask you to push again to deliver your afterbirth. The doctor will carefully examine it and make sure that all parts of the membranes have come out. After that, with the help of mirrors, he will examine the cervix and make sure that it is intact. If necessary, all tears will be closed with absorbable sutures. nine0003

You will have to spend another couple of hours in the delivery room with an ice-filled bladder on your stomach. To quickly contract the uterus, you will be given injections of special drugs. When the threat of postpartum hemorrhage has passed, you will be transferred to the postpartum ward to the baby.

Childbirth completed. Ahead of the postpartum period, during which your body will recover after pregnancy.
More details on Medkrug. RU: http://www.medkrug.ru/article/show/kak_pravilno_vesti_sebja_v_rodah_uchimsja_rozhat_bystro_i_problem

Source: http://www.medkrug.ru/

symptoms, treatment, causes, consequences, photos, prices in Moscow

Services

Stomatitis during pregnancy is a frequent problematic disease that is diagnosed in the "Professor's Author's Dental Clinic on Arbat" and prescribed treatment that allows you to completely and quickly get rid of the disease. The nature of the inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa is different, the symptoms are traditional for most fungal infections. If you suspect stomatitis, do not delay your visit to the dentist, so as not to harm the fetus. nine0003

The following symptoms testify to the development of the disease:

discomfort when talking and eating;
increased sensitivity of the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks;
increased salivation;
sores on the mucosa;
bad taste and odor in the mouth;
subfebrile temperature.

If you do not consult a doctor at this stage, stomatitis in pregnant women progresses rapidly, sores become covered with bubbles, swelling of the mucous membrane is observed, eating becomes difficult. nine0003

Causes of stomatitis and its types during pregnancy

There are certain types of stomatitis that differ precisely in the causes of the disease and the peculiarity of the hormonal background: contact with an already ill person or non-compliance with oral hygiene;

aphthous - caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body, especially iron and vitamin B 12; nine0072

herpetic - it is provoked by the herpes virus, it is also contagious, the reason is contact with the patient's skin or lips;

arising after external influences - inflammation of the oral mucosa, like stomatitis in adults, often appears due to improperly selected dentures, as a result of frequent drinking and smoking.

allergic - this type of stomatitis often occurs after the use of certain drugs, especially in large quantities; nine0072

reaction to prolonged use of antibiotics, destroying beneficial microorganisms in the oral cavity, it becomes unprotected from any kind of bacteria and viruses.

What happens if stomatitis is not treated during pregnancy?

A woman who is expecting a baby is much more susceptible to attack by pathogenic microorganisms than other people. Her body spends its defenses on itself and the fetus, so it does not always fully cope with the task without medical help. nine0003

Pregnancy stomatitis: treatment of diseases of various nature

In modern dentistry, there are several options for treating the disease. Therapy depends on its nature and the individual characteristics of the patient's body:

bacterial damage to the oral mucosa due to insufficient hygiene;
allergic reaction to products, hygiene products;
viruses causing herpetic tissue lesions;
avitaminosis of pregnant women;
fungus;
immunosuppression;
temperature fluctuations leading to dehydration;
manifestation of infection on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, eyes;
transition to a chronic form with the development of a disease in a newborn;
preeclampsia (toxicosis).

If stomatitis is caused by a fungus, an antifungal rinse is given. Viral tissue damage requires taking antiviral drugs, treating sores with sea buckthorn oil, vitamin A. Allergic stomatitis is treated by eliminating the allergen and taking antihistamines. The bacterial form is eliminated with antibiotics, selected in strict accordance with the position of the patient. nine0003

Book an urgent appointment with our dental clinic and get effective treatment of stomatitis during pregnancy at the most reasonable cost in Moscow.

You can make an appointment for a consultation by calling 8 (495) 695-59-60 or in the form of an electronic application, and the clinic administrator will call you back to clarify the details of the appointment!

Book a consultation