Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

So that fever Colin had on Friday...turns out it was most likely caused by a virus. Because now the dude has Hand Foot and Mouth disease. Not diagnosed by a doctor, but diagnosed courtesy of daycare's suggestion and the google images that resemble what Colin has on his feet and hands. And mayoclinic.com lists these symptoms:

• Fever? check (no fever anymore, but that's how it started).
• Sore throat? no, I guess.
• General feeling of malaise? hmmm...no.
• Painful, red blisters in mouth? no.
• Red, nonitchy, possibly blistery rash on palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and sometimes the buttocks? check.
• Irritability? check.
• Loss of appetite? depends on the day, but check.

I'm waiting to hear back from his pediatrician to tell me how I know when he's no longer contagious. Mayoclinic.com says to keep him out of daycare until the fever is gone and mouth sores have healed, which is interesting because he doesn't have any mouth sores.

The plan right now is to keep him out of daycare for at least two more days. Kevin stayed home with him this morning, I'm here this afternoon. Tomorrow who knows. Thursday it'll be my turn. Friday we'll play by ear and hopefully his blisters will be gone and he can go back to daycare.

The good thing is, like chicken pox, once one develops immunity, it's unlikely he'll get it again. And adults already have the immunity built up. So this should be the first and last bout of it.