I’ve mentioned I should’ve paid more attention in pedi class, right? It turns out my children get all the weird stuff like Fifth Disease. Or maybe it’s not so “weird” since I should’ve paid more attention in pedi class. Well, add herpangina to the list. What? Yes, herpangina. I couldn’t recall it from memory, but it sounded a whole lot like an STD when I first heard it. The “official” name – coxsackievirus – didn’t make it any better. Well, now I definitely know what it is because all three children have either had herpangina or are recovering from it.

Although it can occur at any time during the year, herpangina is typically thought of as summer-time virus because freshwater sources such as lakes are prime transmission grounds. The virus, which causes fever, malaise, painful throat ulcerations, stomach aches, and headaches  is primarily spread via the fecal-oral route. Gotta love that. It affects young children (younger than 10) most often, and just like with most other viruses, it must run its course. It typically passes in about one week.

With Texas temperatures consistently around 107 degrees Fahrenheit currently, my children go swimming almost daily. However, my kids could have picked up the virus anywhere including amongst themselves even though my “wash your hands!” upon seeing any of my children exiting the bathroom sounds like a recording by now. We took our toddler in to the doctor last week. She did her due diligence and tested him for strep but knew almost instinctively it was herpangina. Her son had it when he was younger, too, and passed it to all the other kids in the household. Oddly, that made me feel slightly better, but I digress. Sadly and despite a household in-service on hand-washing, that is exactly what happened among our kiddos, as well.

I did my motherly and nursing duties this weekend, administering ibuprofen and acetaminophen, pushing fluids and popsicles, and lightly rubbing backs and softly shushing whines. My children teach me so much. Sometimes it’s even about nursing.