Do you think your child has hand, foot, and mouth disease? Unfortunately, this viral infection is commonly spread from one child to another. It's not uncommon for children to catch this disease if they're in daycare or a pre-school environment where lots of germs are unintentionally spread among the children. If you've looked up some of the different signs and it seems like this is what you're dealing with, there are a few ways to help your child cope:

Bring Your Child to the Pediatric Office

Even if you're almost certain your child has the hand, foot, and mouth disease, it's best to bring him or her to the pediatric office for an actual diagnosis. The pediatrician would be able to check for some of the common signs of this disease, such as high fever and sores on different parts of the body, including the hands, mouth, and the feet. The pediatrician may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication. However, this is this kind of infection that typically goes away on its own after a week or two has passed. In the meantime, you can focus on helping your child get relief from the discomfort.

Make Natural Sore Throat Pops

Not only do children with this disease often suffer from a sore throat, but there's a chance your child has sores in his or her mouth as well. Those sores could cause your little one some discomfort, so providing some sore throat pops may help your child get a bit of relief from the pain. Mix some plain green tea with organic honey and natural lemon juice. Pour the green tea blend into freezer pop molds and place them in the freezer until the liquid has turned into a solid. These pops will taste good and soothe the inflammation in your child's mouth.

Prepare a Warm and Soothing Bath For Your Child

The sores on your child's body are likely causing him or her to experience some pain. A soothing bath often helps children get relief. Add a cup of quick oats and a few drops of lemon essential oil to the water before bringing your child to the tub. Encourage your child to sit in the tub for at least 15 minutes to get as much relief as possible. If it's difficult to get your toddler to stay in the tub, try encouraging him or her to play in the water by putting some toys in the tub and playing along.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common yet frustrating infection that is often passed between children. If you think your child has the disease, take him or her to see the pediatrician and then do what you can to help relieve some of the pain.