What could it be?

[dullwitch]

MY 17 month old has been REALLY grumpy. He was up half the night last night and is dribbling constantly, so had assumed that the last of his teeth are coming through.

But then I noticed a large white patch on the front of his tongue, and his bottom lip looks swollen. It must be sore because he's so miserable, won't suck his thumb, and cries when he takes a sip of water from a sippy cup.

I've never seen anything like it before, does anyone know what it might be please? Typically these things always spring up on a weekend when there are no doctors to see. I'm waiting for a pharmacy to open, but wondered if anyone else has experienced this before. I have given him some live yoghurt in case it's thrush, but don't know what else to do.

[The Nappy Lady]

Do you think it is a nasty ulcer? They can be so painful.

Hope you manage to see someone and get him sorted soon, poor little man.

[nunheadmum]

One other possibility is hand, foot and mouth which is ulcers in the mouth and also possibly on the fingers and toes. It's worth checking his hands and feet as I'm not sure GP's always pick up on it - my GP didn't with me. As it's viral, I'm not sure they can do much but let it run it's course.

I hope it is something more straight forward like just an ulcer or thrush which is probably easier to treat.

[pk]

there's the walk in at lister in peckham if you would rather get advice from a doctor

[ratty]

Also Seldoc at Dulwich Hospital. Always seem to be able to squeeze in infants!

[helena handbasket]

nunheadmum Wrote:

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

> One other possibility is hand, foot and mouth

> which is ulcers in the mouth and also possibly on

> the fingers and toes. It's worth checking his

> hands and feet as I'm not sure GP's always pick up

> on it - my GP didn't with me. As it's viral, I'm

> not sure they can do much but let it run it's

> course.

>

We just went through this, not fun and not treatable. But it's over in about a week and life goes on. If he has small white sores in his mouth, and little red dots on his hands and feet, then you can be pretty sure that's what it is. Apparently it's rampant in nurseries and pre-schools. I'd never even hear of it before I googled "spots on hands and feet" :

edited to delete same message twice (?)

[helena handbasket]

Sorry - want to add also the misery sounds right. The mouth sores are awful and painful, they can't eat or drink anything so that's what makes it so unpleasant. My little guy lived on iced lollies for a week (I made my own from fruit juice and liquid vitamins).

[dullwitch]

Thank you so much for this information. I think he may well have HFM, I checked his hand and feet and there seem to be a few little spots. He also has a blister inside his lip. He hasn't had any fever though so far.

I had actually started to think he may have burnt his mouth on some hot food yesterday because I couldn't work out what it was. But this all makes sense now. He's been an absolute nightmare today, bless him, he's been beside himself with discomfort and has hardly eaten anything. Calpol seems to be helping though.

Thank you thank you. I love this forum!

[EDmummy]

Had this recently myself. Must have got it from one of my children who were not being very affected by it. Could not eat much (everything tasted awful) for a week, my tongue took over two weeks to fully recover and ended up getting one of the spots in a salivary gland and looked like I had mumps. I became very down throughout this so I can only imagine how horrid is must be if you are 17 months old!

My advice would be to be led by him with regard to food and fluids - he is unlikely to suffer too much by not eating for a few days (unless he has any underlying health issues) and if pain relief helps - great!

[dullwitch]

Thank you EDmummy. Xx I just hope my 5 year old doesn't get it now too! Mind you, it might keep him quiet for a few days ;-)

I think the worst thing is that he can't suck his thumb, so finds it difficult to settle. He's always got his thumb in his mouth so I can only imagine how bereft he must be without it.