mongs,
Not sure if you remember my post last October...
Isaac had HFMD. It started with high fever for about 1.5 days, red dots appear on his hand, foot and a few on his lower legs on the 3rd day. Ulcers also developed in the mouth on the 3rd day. Isaac had problem drinking and eating and had to be warded and put on the drip. Isaac also passed the virus to my friend's 1 10 month old boy, but my friend's boy symptoms are milder and different. He only had low grade fever, but had red spots all over his face and body and no mouth ulcers... even his PDs (my friend actually brought her boy to 2 PDs) cannot conclude for sure that he had HFMD. But can only deduce that it is most likely HFMD since he came into close contact with Isaac and was down a few days later. Different strains of HFMD may show slightly different symptoms. But generally, fever and red spots on hand & foot and ulcers in the mouth are definitely symptoms of HFMD.
The incubation period for HFMD is usually 3-7 days and id most contagious within the one week where symptoms appear. So if Clariss has come into direct contact (through saliva, nose discharge, touching the blisters) with her cousins, then she is at a high risk of getting it as well. You have to observe her... meaning, from the timeline, say her cousin show symptoms on Day 1, Clariss may be already infected, but will only show symptoms on 3 to 7 days. And if Clariss do get it (touch wood!), she is most contagious during the 7 days of illness & recovery.
If you do decide to bring Clariss home and isolate her from Clarene (and all other kids) and practice very good hygiene. Always wash your hands after handling Clariss and do not share utensils with Clariss. Do not let Clarene touch anything that Clariss may have touched. It is possible for adults to get HFMD and yet do not show any symptoms of it.
