Before i had child, i never know festive season is also a season full of viruses. It is because there are a lot of house visitings involved and kids tend to play together, share their food, a lot of body contacts thus, a lot of germs and viruses being passed around the kiddies. Chloe was one of the victims.
She caught this virus Herpangina Coaxsackievirus from another kid at nanny’s place. From what i was informed, this kid went back to Sibu during Chinese New Year festive season and he caught the virus and brought it back to Kuching. He was not as sick as Chloe as he is older (better body immunity perhaps). It’s one of the downsides to have children taken care by nanny i would say. Anyway, Chloe had been quarantined at home for recovery for one whole week now and i’m glad i’m taking care of her myself although it’s really tiring to drag a big pregnant body while taking care of the needs of a grumpy, sick child.
A short introduction of Herpangina Coaxsackievirus to all my readers so that you can take extra care when dealing with children body contacts (and toy sharings). This is a one of Coaxsackieviruses’ virus. It’s not deadly but the child will really suffer the pain from all the ulcers developed on the lips, roof of the mouth and at the back of the throat. As what you might know, if you catch virus (be it flu or anything else), there is no antibiotic to help. The only thing you can have is the Panadol (to temporary stop the pain and fever).
The first ever symptom of it is a sudden fever. Chloe had this fever middle of the night when she cried herself awake. Then, it will be followed by little red spots appearing beneath the skin on thighs, legs and soles of the feet. Ulcers will then develop on lips, tongue, roof of the mouth and back of the throat. The whole thing is just too nasty and heartbreaking for a child to bear. The only comfort is that the red spots do not cause itchiness. The only unbearable pain are the ulcers. The child will lose the appetite, mood and weight altogether. The most important is to keep her hydrated even if she doesn’t eat much.
Chloe suffered for 4 days and got way better on the 5th. She could sleep well at night, waking up from little pain at 4 am in the morning. I had to put Oral Aid on her pacifier so the medication could numb her mouth and let her fell back to sleep again. The first few nights were plain nightmare! The pain was so unbearable that she screamed and cried altogether her lungs out (almost). Steven and the grandpa were almost sleepless looking after her in the living room as she refused to stay inside bedroom. Children TV program had to be turned on to keep her focus instead her focusing on the pain. She drifted off to short sleeps after she got so tired from a lot of cries, yells and screams. PLAIN NIGHTMARE!! I was asked to sleep in bedroom due to being pregnant but i had only light sleeps here and there, having to worry how the guys were handling a cranky baby out there. Thank God for them. *2 nights seemed like 2 long years for all of us*
She’s recovering well now and i have already stopped Panadol and Oral Aid on her after 4th night. She can have milk, eat and drink well now to regain her body immunity. The good news is that her body will now be immune to this type of virus even when the carriers are around her.
真的是经一事长一志呵～吓死老娘我了
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Short note:
Our house’s old dog, Siao Hei, had passed away on the early morning on 27th Feb 2010 at vet’s clinic. The younger, bigger dog had bitten her almost to death on 26th afternoon and the vet came to bring her away. She couldn’t make it to recover this time where else she was bitten twice by bigger dogs before and recovered. RIP Siao Hei. You will be missed. Your service will be remembered.
