Mom warns community of Hands Foot Mouth Disease after son gets infected

Mia Morales and Gabriela Gonzalez

7 hours ago

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An ordinary weekend at a Harlingen community splash pad took a turn after a toddler entered the water.

Guadalupe Rodriguez took her 1-year-old son for some family fun at the splash pad at her apartment complex when she noticed her child was showing signs of changing behavior.

Rodriguez told ValleyCentral she decided to cut the trip to the splash pad short and took her son home where she noticed he was starting to get bumps around his mouth and arms.

“At first we thought they were just mosquito bites, but the next day we noticed his whole body was covered in bumps and rashes,” Rodriguez said.

In the days following the visit to the community splash pad, Rodriguez’s son had a fever and no appetite.

The child’s symptoms continued to intensify throughout the weekend, but pediatric clinics and offices were closed, prompting Rodriguez to take her son for a check-up in Mexico.

“On Sunday we started to notice that the situation was getting worse,” Rodriguez said. “His rashes were getting redder and redder. He started putting it in his mouth and his throat closed up.

Mexican doctors confirmed that Rodriguez’s 1-year-old child had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease.

Rodriguez’s son began suffering fevers reaching 106 degrees Fahrenheit, which led to febrile seizures.

Since contracting the virus in mid-May, Rodriguez’s son is still recovering.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

ValleyCentral spoke with pediatrician Dr. Asim Zamir of Valley Regional Medical Center and Valley Baptist in Brownsville to discuss HFMD and how to stay safe.

Zamir explains that the disease is very common in children and is caused by various viruses such as:

• Coxsackie virus, which belongs to the herpes virus family
• Enterovirus, which can cause illness in the gastrointestinal tract

“(HFMD) gives you a rash on your hands, the palms of your hands and your feet, including the soles of your feet,” Zamir said. “They also give you blisters in your mouth, which is very painful. »

HFMD Symptoms and Precautions

Symptoms of HFMD can vary depending on a person’s immune system, health status, age, and time of year.

The chances of contracting the disease increase during warmer seasons compared to colder seasons.

“Humidity and hot weather favor the application of the virus,” Zamir said. “They make them divide more and become more contagious or more contagious. »

The virus is spread by person-to-person contact, both in children and adults.

According to Zamir, the younger the patient, the stronger the symptoms.

“It’s more common among minors. The peak is between infants and age five. It can also affect children, adolescents and adults with immune system defects or diseases,” Zamir said.

Zamir added that adults who are being treated for cancer, if they contract the virus, it is more dangerous for them.

Symptoms to watch out for are:

• Mild to high fever up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit
• Rashes that can last up to 10 days
• Blisters in the mouth
• Fatigue
• Blisters that may look like chickenpox
• Sore throat
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Zamir advises parents to wash their hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds and disinfect any public areas your child may come into contact with.

Rodriguez told ValleyCentral that she had never heard of the virus until her son was infected with HFMD.

She advises parents to pay more attention to their surroundings and what children put in their mouths.