Blisters on toddler's lips

[Polly D]

My son (3 in Feb) has been sick twice today - there is a bug going round at nursery. He seems okay, sleeping lots and quite quiet when not being sick but he also has a load of blisters on his lips which he's never had before.

Could the two things be connected? What will I find if I google...?! Best thing would be a trip to the chemist but I don't really dare take him out with the chances of him being sick again being high. He has been telling me for a few days that his mouth hurts but he's also had a bit of a cough so I thought he meant his throat hurt because of that. Maybe he meant his lips.

Any suggestions forum parents?

Thanks

P

[vicki08]

it sounds like a cold sore

[alieh]

I was going to say hand, foot and mouth disease. Think it is viral so may have to run it's course but would visit the GP if it were me.

[david_carnell]

alieh Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I was going to say hand, foot and mouth disease.

> Think it is viral so may have to run it's course

> but would visit the GP if it were me.

With my moderator hat on, please could I remind all posters to acknowledge the advice of the doctor in the top post of the family room and do not dispense ill-informed medical advice. This is not only unhelpful and alarmist but also medically unsound.

Thank you.

[Family Room Moderator]

Thanks for stepping in David.

Please do refrain from using the forum for giving/asking for medical advice, especially in cases where the child has not been seen by a GP.

Many thanks.

[Polly D]

Ah quite right, apologies.

Still, thought A's advice to see GP wise and so we did. Didn't think we'd get a same-day appt and didn't feel serious enough to go to A&E hence my post. However, wonderful doc at FH rd practice unbelievably helpful and saw us.

[littleEDfamily]

Sounds exactly like hand foot and mouth, which my daughter had - well yours sounds like classic version, whereas mine had the rash on her bottom and thankfully hardly any mouth ulcers.

Out of interest, what did the doctor say?

[reren]

I can understand why the moderator is saying not to give health advice but i do think you are underestimating the intelligence of the people on the forum. I highly doubt that anyone who is worried about their childs health will risk just following advice from a forum post - but it might be helpful at midnight to get some advice... If i have a chat in a cafe with a friend who says - oh that symptom sounds like something my child had - no one zooms in and tells them off! The person who posted about the foot and mouth actually suggested going to the gp - i dont see why she/ he was told off so roundly. Personally i think you have pretty clearly reminded people to be sensible about interpreting medical advice...

[candj]

I agree with renren - op was asking if others had same experience and alieh responded and said go to the gp. Is it a forum liability issue? Surely people use it at their own risk? Personally I find the fam room full of helpful tips and advice and some of it borders on medical advice and don't know why she was told off either. I think most of us are sensible enough to go to the docs if something were more serious. Probably a lot better than using google!

[Family Room Moderator]

I don't want the original poster to feel she was told off, and I do agree that most users of the forum are sensible enough to know that their child should see a doctor. What I would hate to see happen is someone, perhaps not so sensible, make a diagnosis based on something they've read here rather than see a doctor.

We issue this advice based on contact made to us from a concerned health professional.

I hope your son is feeling better today PollyD.

[david_carnell]

Agreed.

Apologies if I came across as scolding - not my intention at all. And whilst I'm sure the vast majority of FR members are very intelligent the forum could do without a lawsuit due to innaccurate medical advice.

Thank you all for understanding.

[Scruffy Mummy]

If the Forum is concerned about potential lawsuits, it may be wise to put a disclaimer on the site that any opinions are those of individuals posting here and people seeking medical advice should always consult with your doctor.

I think it would be a shame not to give opinions or advice however here. When I had baby scruffy, he had jaundice. I had to go to the clinic at King's and each week, I saw a different doctor at the clinic. One week, a junior doctor sought the advice of a senior colleague. This doctor then said that in order to diagnose whether baby scruffy was suffering from breastfeeding jaundice (harmless) was for me to stop breastfeeding him for 3 whole days! As baby scruf was only a few weeks old and my first baby, I was very upset as I a)was worried about giving him a bottle for that time and him then refusing the breast after the 3 days were up and b)how I was going to deal with all the backlog of milk in my breasts? This consultant was adamant that this was what I had to do and I was feeling very down but myself and my partner said 'Well, if this is what I have to do, so be it'

I woke up in the middle of the night totally anxious about it - I went to the net, I surfed and found discussion groups of other mums. I found out that this was out-of-date, poor advice I had been given. I went back to King's the next day, spoke to another doctor who was frankly shocked at this advice! She apologised for this doctor, saying he had been trained in Australia where things were different, apparently!!! MY point is that if I hadn't gone to the net for a second opinion, I would have suffered needlessly.

[sophiechristophy]

Hand foot and mouth seems to be going around like crazy at the moment, I know 4 friends' babies that have had it in the last month or so.

[reren]

I do understand the balance that you are trying to reach and the service the forum provides and all the work that must go on behind the scenes is to be applauded again and again. The regular users of this family room can be nothing but enormously grateful for the work that you do as moderators. I think it would be well worth doing as scruffy mummy suggests to proect yourself legally - rather than introducig a feeling that every comment is being weighed up and judged by an invisible force - there is the potential for people to feel they are being controlled by the thought police. It would be such a shame on this forum which is a hugely helpful resource for parents to feel they can ask and say anything (within reason!).

[Administrator]

It was just a friendly piece of advice to point out the obvious, any belief that the thought police are in your head is just, well, in your head. It's good to hear the forum is useful to families, and so rather than go off on one because we're reminding people about the benefits and importance of GPs, can anyone help Polly D (who has actually asked for suggestions from forum parents).

[Polly D]

We are fine ta. Blisters cleared up all by themselves, and don't know why he had them - sign of general run-downness? Still being sick as of last night but chirpy this morning. Doc said viral, we are staying in, jigsaws and watching tv.

There's a lot of it going around according to friends and nursery (the sickness bug that is).

Wishing you all healthy and restful weekends.

P