Does My Son Have Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)?

One day over the summer, a client called while on vacation telling me that her son Samuel has been feeling sluggish and was just sitting around most of the day. She was concerned because the whites of his eyes were bright red, and although they were on vacation he didn’t want to go to the beach or do anything.

My client reviewed what she had already tried. She gave him the homeopathic remedy Gelsemium (Gels) thinking it could be heat exhaustion. He felt a little better after taking Gels and then his neck started hurting. His glands were swollen, especially the right side and he had white spots on the back of his throat. My client then gave him the homeopathic remedy Mercurius Vivus (Merc) because his glands were swollen, he had excessive saliva and because of the fact that he was tired. 

Samuel’s mother took him to the doctor. The doctor said he had strep throat after checking him all over. I told her to continue giving Samuel Merc a couple times a day.

At our follow-up call a few days later she told me her son now has a rash on both legs and his feet that is very itchy with bumpy welts and pimples and some swelling. It looks like a lot of bug bites. She said the Merc was not helping the symptoms any more. His itching was better with ice. I recommended that she stop Merc and give him the homeopathic remedy Ledum for the itching skin better applying ice. She had already started the homeopathic remedy Apis for the swelling.

She also told me that her other little guy (Tyler) was starting to get blisters on his feet. I suggested that she give Tyler the homeopathic remedy Silicea (Sil) for the blister on his feet 2-3 times a day. 

She said I think the boys have “Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).” I stated that could very well be what they have. Though, having a diagnosis is not always needed in homeopathy, we will still select a homeopathic remedy according to what the skin looks like and what makes the skin symptoms feel better or worse.

A few days later on our call she told me Samuel’s eruptions looked like they may have become infected from scratching. I recommend that she make up an *Echinacea Tincture and Aloe Vera Juice Solution to help keep the eruptions from getting infected. Also, to switch to the homeopathic remedy Clematis Erecta (Clem) if the rash does become infected.

Three days later, she called and said that the eruptions were becoming infected and between the Echinacea Tincture and Aloe Vera Juice Solution and the Clematis the infected skin is now drying up and cracking open. I told my client to stop Clem and give Samuel the Homeopathic remedy Petroleum (Petro) for the cracking of the skin. 

On the final call my client updated me on how the boys were doing with the Petro and Sil remedies. She stated how amazed she was to see how the Echinacea Tincture and Aloe Vera Juice Solution quickly cleared up the skin and now the scabs were starting to peel off, and that the red marks behind the knees, arms and the feet are peeling too. The boys were feeling much better.

As you can see, we had to use several homeopathic remedies to finally clear up the HFMD. All we did was allow the body to tell us what it needed to address the skin rash by exhibiting a new symptom picture. Each time before switching from one homeopathic remedy to another we always increased the succussions on the **Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle (RSB) making sure the selected remedy was no longer needed.  

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease May Only Have Symptoms in the Mouth

Not all HFMD cases go this way. I have seen HFMD cases that just have symptoms in the mouth. 

In another case, a child had a very red mouth and tongue with blisters. In that case the homeopathic remedies were prescribed for the blisters and the pain the child had while eating and drinking. In a case like this you may need the homeopathic remedies Cantharis, Causticum, Rhus Toxicodendron and Apis for the mouth symptoms. And the homeopathic remedies Chamomile or Bryonia Alba may be needed for when there is pain from eating, drinking or during the night, until the homeopathic blister remedies start shrinking the blister in the mouth.

*Echinacea Tincture and Aloe Vera Juice Solution both are helpful herbs to keep the skin from becoming infected or when already infected. Echinacea helps by boasting the immune system to help ward off infection. Aloe Vera promotes healthy skin by absorbing into the 7 skin layers and pulling in whatever substance is that’s mixed with the Aloe Vera. In this solution we used Echinacea Tincture to help the skin infection or from becoming infected.

Echinacea Tincture and Aloe Vera Juice Solution Recipe

• 1-3 Tablespoons Aloe Vera Juice (good quality)
• Echinacea (Angustifolia and or Purpurea) Tincture
• Water (filtered or distilled)
• Spray Bottle

Add enough Echinacea Tincture to water in a spray bottle until sees slight change in the color of water. Add 1-3 Tablespoons of Aloe Vera Juice to Echinacea water solution. Spray skin eruptions and dry with a cool setting on blow dryer to create a second skin. Apply several times a day soothes the skin and keeps from getting infected.

**See Video on What is and How to Make up Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle https://viranginicindy.com/videos/how-to-make-a-homeopathic-remedy-solution-bottle-rsb/

What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)?

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by a variety of viruses, but should not be confused with Foot-and Mouth Disease (also called hoof and mouth disease found in livestock) or Fifth Disease (also called Erythema Infectiosum). 

Beginning Symptoms of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

HFMD starts with a general feeling of coming down with a common cold, with a sore throat and a fever. One may also feel tired, have a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and have irritability. One to two days later, skin symptoms develop as a flat rash with discolored spots and bumps, which can be followed by vesicular sores with blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, buttocks, and sometimes on the lips. The rash can be extremely itchy. The face and around the nose or in the mouth may also develop painful ulcers or blisters. 

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease is a Highly Contagious

HFMD is common among toddlers and preschool-age children, although older children and adults may also develop, the symptoms. The virus is highly contagious and will affect those whose immune systems are down. HFMD can be passed back and forth between family members through the nose and throat secretions such as saliva, chest and nasal mucus and as well as fluid in blisters and stool.

The most common places HFMD is contracted: Daycares, because of potty training, diaper changes and children often put their hands into their mouths. School is another place known for contracting the virus. 

Hand Foot and Mouth Outbreaks

HFMD virus outbreaks usually occur during the change of the seasons, with increase cases in the fall and springtime. This is thought to be due to heat and humidity causing the spread of the disease.

Incubation Period

The time between infection and onset of symptoms ranges from three to six days after coming in contact with the virus.

Contagious Period

One can return to child care, school or work after the fever is gone. Those with blisters may need to stay home until the blisters dry up.

Treatment and Diagnosis

A diagnosis is usually made by the presence of symptoms. If the diagnosis is unclear, a throat swab or stool specimen may be taken to identify the virus by culture. 

Medications are usually not given for HFMD since it’s a viral disease and it usually resolves on its own after 7–10 days. And most cases of HFMD are relatively harmless.

Homeopathic remedies can address the HFMD eruptions along with the pain and itchiness. 

Prevention

Avoid direct contact with infected individuals. Proper cleaning of shared utensils, disinfecting contaminated surfaces, toys, and proper hand hygiene to be sure the virus is not passed down to other family members, for at least a week from the onset of the symptoms.