Hand Foot Mouth again???

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So, I have never had a case of HFM until this spring, ever. And now the same child who had it less than two months ago has it again?!

Is it a virus like a cold, that kids can get more than once? Or a virus like chickenpox, that kids (usually) only get once?

[Angelsj]

It is a virus.
It is unusual for a child to get it repeatedly.

[mskaykay]

Same here.... I just found out that the child that started the epidemic here a few months ago has it again.

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http://www.cdc.gov/features/handfootmouthdisease/

[Blackcat31]

http://www.hennepin.us/~/media/hennepinus/residents/health-medical/documents/1340-s6-hand-foot.pdf

CONTAGIOUS PERIOD
During the first week of illness and possibly for several weeks after illness. Virus
may be shed for several weeks in stool. Infected persons who may not seem sick
are able to spread the virus.

They may just not be getting fully over it if they are sick again with it as it seems the virus can stay in your body for a few weeks..

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Child last had it in May, so probably too long to still have it.
However that CDC link says it is caused by several different viruses, so it is possible for a child to have it more than once. Yay happyface

This child is sick more often than all of my others combined. His parents used to blame it all on childcare, but they seem to be over that. No one is ever sick before him, only after.

Child is here minimally over the summer. Is it weird that I feel like a failure because he keeps getting sick when he's not here ::