Heh. Coxsackie. Poor Lucy has a case of Coxsackie Virus. Also known as Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Coxsackie Virus is a common childhood virus spread via body fluids and (yum) feces. Basically, as our pediatrician said, babies get it (a lot) from putting everything in their mouth. Some babies have no symptoms at all. Lucy is not one of them.
She has had a fever on and off for the last three days. She has been fussy for no apparent reason, not sleeping well, not eating well (but nursing like a MANIAC) and generally been listless and glassy-eyes. Tylenol has not helped make her feel better. Motrin has not helped her feel better. And it comes and goes. Yesterday she was running a fever of 102, but was happy and playful. Last night she had a fever of 99 and was screaming and listless. Poor little peanut. The doc took one look in the back of her throat today and actually recoiled as she said "Oh! That's coxsackie". Apparently, there are a lot of versions of Coxsackie, one of which is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease. This not terribly creatively names ailment is characterized by painful blisters in the (you guessed it) mouth, throat and lips, spots on the face, hands and, not surprisingly, feet. The mysteriously painful diaper rash that Lucy has been sporting for the last 3 days is also a symptom.
Alas, there is nothing to be done. It is a virus. All I can do is keep her hydrated and give her Tylenol and Motrin until she has no fever for at least 24 hours. She is so uncomfortable. So very very sad. She spent all morning clinging to me, nursing and whimpering. It was like hugging a child-sized hot water bottle. I am still sweating.
At least it has a funny name.
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