Darn Germ-y Kids

Oh the joys of being an elementary school principal. One of our kinders has been diagnosed with foot, hand and mouth disease.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an illness that causes sores in or on the mouth and on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks and legs. The sores may be painful. The illness usually doesn't last more than a week or so.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is common in children but can also occur in adults. It can occur at any time of year but is most common in the summer and fall.

If a pregnant woman gets hand, foot and mouth disease, there’s normally no risk to the unborn baby, as complications are rare.

HFMD is rare in healthy adults, so the risk of infection during pregnancy is also very low.

However, if you develop hand, foot and mouth disease:

during the first three months of pregnancy – in very rare cases, this may result in miscarriage due to the high temperature (fever) in the mother
shortly before you give birth – the infection can be passed on to your baby

Her teacher is about 7 months pregnant and I am the supervisor of her class' lunch table at lunch each day:(.

Her teacher was headed to the doctor this afternoon. I called our new OB who called back and said I was not officially a patient until our appointment next Tuesday. They suggested I call my RE. I left a message, but didn't hear back. I am hoping everyone's lack of helpfulness is a sign that it's NBD...