104 HAWAII PARENT May/June 2025 infections, pneumonia, and oral thrush. Hand-foot-mouth disease is a viral infection characterized by painful red blisters or rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, throat, or diaper area. Keiki can also contract a fever, belly aches, and fussiness. Hand-footmouth disease is selflimiting and again comfort care and hydration are important. An ear infection and pneumonia are also highly contagious sicknesses that can be caught when keiki are around their peers at daycare. Ear infections and pneumonia may need antibiotics after consulting with your pediatrician, so it is important to speak with your physician if your child has an ear infection or symptoms of pneumonia, such as a cough with mucus, Many pediatricians don’t recommend over-thecounter cough medications for kids because they might not work as well. Instead, a pediatrician can usually prescribe antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), loratadine (Claritin), or fexofenadine (Allegra). It’s also important to note that, contrary to what most people believe, antibiotics only work for bacterial infections, and most of these illnesses from daycare are caused by viruses, so antibiotics are not effective. Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, Ear Infections, Pneumonia, and Oral Thrush Other common daycare diseases include hand-foot-mouth disease, ear When daycare bugs strike, knowing how to care for your little one makes all the difference. “It is expected that children in daycare average somewhere between six to twelve colds per year”
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