Sign the petition to have Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease renamed!

June 17, 2008 | Filed in: Huh?, Little Monkeys

My poor girl Ella has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.

I mean, it’s bad enough that she’s sick and cranky and fevery, but really! The name of this illness? It’s the WORST NAME EVER! I swear it sounds like she was diagnosed by a veterinarian and not a pediatrician.

Tate, of course, being TATE, keeps joking that she has “hoof and mouth disease.” Hmph. Not funny. At least it’s not funny when you have a kid who’s been a BEAR for three days (and nights) straight. Also not funny after googling “hand, foot, and mouth disease” and getting hits for the the animal equivalent.

Since I’m going to be stuck at home for the next week with my HIGHLY contagious daughter and biding my time until Carson is also struck with the DISEASE, I’m going to start a letter writing campaign to change the name of this illness.

Dear People in charge of naming childhood illnesses,

I’m writing to let you know that the name “Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease” is atrocious and it MUST be changed IMMEDIATELY. It sounds too much like a barnyard ailment and I don’t wish for my daughter or any child to be thought of as a cow or pig. Think of the stigma! Also, the word “disease” being a part of the name is clearly a LOT frightening and wholy unnecessary.

Because I’m SO helpful, here are a few suggestions for a new and improved name:

1. My kid’s so freaking cranky I want to pull my hair out-itis (please note how I refrained from using the word “DISEASE.”)
2. Ouchy blisters on the throat, spreading to the hands and feet illness
3. Or the simplest…Hand, foot, and mouth ILLNESS (see? the word illness is much…softer, less scary. also this suggestion shows how well I can compromise.)

Your prompt attention to this very pressing matter would be most appreciated. So, I’ll be hearing about this name change on the news within a day or two, I presume?

Word from a mutha,

Ella’s less than thrilled mommy

Umm, yeah. They should change that. Poor little bug.

Mama DBs last blog post..Happy Father’s Day, Love

and by “Poor little bug” I mean your poor dear little girl. A term of endearment. I was in no way calling your daughter an insect…or a cow…or a pig.

Mama DBs last blog post..Happy Father’s Day, Love

ohhh… NASTY! poor ella! rename that IMMEDIATELY.

the planet of janets last blog post..The state of the state of their union

Aww Poor lil Ella Hope she’s better soon and Carson manages to not catch it!

I like your first choice the best
Marylins last blog post..For your viewing pleasure…

I’m sorry your babe is sick. You could call it by its other name… COXSACKIE VIRUS.

Nasty names for a nasty virus!

Oh Coxsackie Virus is not any better…nope not at all….just more fuel for jokes.

Hugs, I hope she feels better soon and I pray Carson doesn’t get it.

Jens last blog post..Can’t Stop Snappin’

I so agree. A few friends of mine, their children have had it this summer too. What’s up, I’ve never heard of it in my life and now just this month I’ve heard of like 3 kids get it.

Oh, and the name is so nasty….makes the kids sound like they are chewing on their toe nails or something.

Go ahead and send me the petition, I’ll give it some ink.

My 2 kids had it last week… every time I told someone what it was called, they looked at me like I had three heads. Why do they have to call it a “disease”?? Ugh, everything about it blows.

I agree, I felt funny about it when my kids had it too. It definitely sounds like something an ag-vet would diagnose. BTW, be glad she got it young, my older daughter got it when someone I was providing childcare brought her little boy with it, DIDN’T TELL ME!!!! (sorry I had to shout), and when I confronted her, just shrugged and said all kids will get it anyway. The older you are, the worse it is, and my daughter was miserable. I still remember her laying in bed and crying from the pain of the blisters.

Hope everyone’s better soon.

Mom24s last blog post..Meal Plan Monday #14

Payton had that when he was a toddler too. It sucks! And no, the other name is not any better.

I hope Ella gets better fast.

Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..What Advertising Asshole Thought This One Up?

ooooo. sorry to hear she’s sick and advanced sorry’s for when/if Carson gets it.
I’ve always hated that name too, along with the Cocksakie virus. Seriously, who names these?!
Get well soon, little one.

You need to tell Tate that if he doesn’t buck up, you will pass it on to him and call it ‘foot in mouth disease’.

Or that is what I would tell my partner.

Poor little girl, I hope she gets better fast.

Veronicas last blog post..Pregnancy Tests

so sorry babe!

amys last blog post..And the white knight is talking backwards

While they’re at it - could they also change the name of “Fifth’s Disease”? I never liked that one either.

And - I hope Ella is feeling better real soon - and hopefully Carson won’t get it!!

Cathys last blog post..It’s About Time!

Maybe this illness could be renamed after a celebrity, as in Lou Gehrig’s disease. I just don’t know who to suggest . . .

Hang in there!

meps last blog post..Child’s Play the Prequel: Here’s "Bucky" . . .

We have been lucky enough to have avoided this one so far. I am certain it will strike our home at some time but as of yet, we have avoided it. I agree, change the name to something that doesn’t sound like an animal illness!

Tonis last blog post..All Boy

I’m so sorry little Ella is sick!

I agree. It is a terrible name!!!

Connies last blog post..There is something worse….

I remember the first time my daycare put up a notice that a kid in my son’s room had that “illness.” I immediately went home and googled “hoof mouth disease” because that’s all I’ve ever heard during my life.

I was a bit perplexed about the result I received from dear google. Then I realized I had it a bit incorrect.

Luckily he’s never gotten it - yet. Daycare is such a fun place for germs to rove around.

Janines last blog post..Diaper rash ointment works wonders for all kinds of things.

I had this when I was a teenager. And yes, everyone joked I had hoof and mouth disease. *eye roll*

Don’t worry too much…she will be right as rain soon enough…If I remember it didn’t last too too long.

Poor girl.
Sandys last blog post..Blessed Relief…

Renaming it would help get some media exposure. Just sayin’!

Burgh Babys last blog post..Yesterday’s Tough Girl is Today’s Super Wimp

Poor Ella. Hope she feels better soon. In the meantime I will sign the petition. It IS a horrible name, i totally agree!

ohmommys last blog post..One Whipped Husband

Oh not fun. I remember dealing with this at school. And the name? Must be changed now. You’re so right on about that. It’s just so degrading!
Here’s hoping she mends quickly and that the rest of you remain untouched by the “illness”.

Mandys last blog post..To clip or not to clip?

Oh no! That is awful.

And you definitely have a point about the name!

How about naming it, “This sucks!” and leave it at that, huh?

Vals last blog post..What’s with you and water anyway?

I agree with you…. What an awful name for a horrible illness.

Hope she feels better soon!

Jills last blog post..When In Doubt, Bring Reading Material

I’m with you….my younger son had that and I think any one of your three suggestions is better than the real name.

I don’t know how my older son avoided this as a child, but I’m sure glad I only had to go through it once.

Here’s to your sanity!

Have the T-Shirts last blog post..Take my word for it…….

Poor Ella! I hope she is feeling better soon. They really should leave DISEASE out of anything that isn’t extremely life threatening.

Devans last blog post..Mrs. Blueberry

Poor baby girl

Get well soon, Ella! And I will send THE most powerful prayers I’ve got that Carson doesn’t catch “the illness” too. That sucks.

And the name? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Totally agree with you. Too barnyard for a sweet baby like yours.

Hang in there mama!

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Oh! I hope Ella feels better soon - that just sounds really nasty! Here’s hoping Carson manages to bypass this little gem. Good luck with everything:)

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We call it Coxackie here….What’s worse?

~JJ!s last blog post..Hi.

I hope she feels better soon!!!!

(That part didn’t go through the first time)

~JJ!s last blog post..Hi.

Poor kiddo. I agree it is a freakish sounding name! I’ll sign your petition!!!

I know full well how tough it is to be cooped up indoors with a sick one, so I feel your pain. And, I’ve got my fingers crossed that Carson is spared. Mine is nearly fever free and is now bouncing off the walls.

Anglophile Football Fanatics last blog post..Crying Over Spilled Milk (of Magnesia)

I had HF&M as a kid when I was at sleep-away camp. It really stank. I was also ostracized. Big fun. My mom finally came to pick me up when she realized I couldn’t eat cookies. That was the evidence she needed that I was -really- sick.

At least Ella won’t have the pre-teen trauma of being ostracized….

Ugh, how awful!! What a sucky thing to have to deal with!

But I agree on the name. It sucks. Seriously sucks. So sorry
Sarahs last blog post..Terminology Tuesday - Calming Techniques

Whoa, how positively nightmarish. I’m wishing Ella well soon!

And here’s a little hopefully sanity saving goofiness for you:

my contribution for renaming HFMD:

Horribly Freaking Misnamed Disorder
Help Free My Daughter

and then some that might describe how you’re feeling

Here, Feed me donuts
Hi, find my drink

Ok, ok, I know I have way too much time on my hands

Worker Mommys last blog post..Suck It, right Foot

Personally, I think hand foot and mouth is better than the scientific coxsackie word. I hate that word. Both my kids had it. It was not that big a deal in the end. I think the mouth sores lasted about 4 days, but they were both before speaking age when they had it, so I didn’t know it right away. The hands and feet barely had any markings at all. The mouth sores made them lose their appetite a bit, but nothing major. Good luck.

Still, I remember telling people that is what my kids had and you would have thought I told them my kids had mad cow disease. They were horrified and would hold their little dears a bit closer. yoo-hooo - it’s just a virus like a cold and it goes away. Strep is worse.

KEEP BELIEVING

Angies last blog post..Wisconsin Northwoods

i’m sure someone already told you in the comments but it DOES already have another name…coxsackie…which is WAY worse if you ask me!

alis last blog post..the joiner, the myspace, and the suckers!

I hope she’s not one of the ones that it periodically comes back to haunt.

Poor Ella!

Think of it this way, the first time I was diagnosed with it? It was by a Indian doctor who didn’t have quite so clear English…and he told my mother that her 12 year old had “Coxsakie virus” again.

Cept it didn’t sound like that…I’ll let you use your imagination as to what it sounded like…

Yup, my mother was less than thrilled to think her 12 year old was doing that!

CourtneyRyan369s last blog post..hairiffic haiku!

That was a really clever post! LOL!

And I am so sorry your girl is sick. Being cooped up with sick kids is hard!

Stacy (mama-om)s last blog post..No One Talks to Him. Ever.

Poor Ella! And poor you! There are quite a few illnesses that need renaming, in my opinion. And double eww on the coxsackie virus name.

Molly’s Moms last blog post..Dad Story

Bless Ella’s heart! Both of my nephews had it and they were miserable. Maybe Carson will get by without getting it.

justmylifes last blog post..Do you like it?

That sucks. Maybe it was the apple butter.

AMomTwoBoyss last blog post..Weekly Winners- New Camera Edition

My little monster had that when he was just a baby. Only my doctor said it was “herpangina” which made me think he had some crazy morphed version of herpes. So, I was paranoid that I’d given him cold sores. But my MIL was always paranoid he was going to get ‘hoof and mouth’ when he touched something that had been on the floor. So I didn’t tell her what he had. How bad is that?

Marys last blog post..PrompTuesday #9

I feel ya, we just got over 5th’s Disease! Who the hell comes up with this stuff! They ought to hire the people resonsible for naming those opi nail polishes!

Something like- I sore you looking in my throat, it hurts!
or
Hand me your foot so I can put it in my mouth illness.

OK, so I am not getting a job anytime soon from Opi, but you get the idea!!

Kellys last blog post..Where’s Daddy?

Oh my gosh, I so agree with you! The first time I heard of this when a friend’s child had it, I thought, wait, what? Isn’t that something horses get?

Rachaels last blog post..TV Tuesday: SYTYCD, Fringe, Hell’s Kitchen and Holy Frakkin’ BSG!

Yep, just one more of those diseases I’d never heard of until I had my own. They should call it “yucky painful blister” disease.

Manager Moms last blog post..Phoning in a Twofer - A Meme with a Twist, Plus Giveaways!

[...] Sign the petition to have Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease renamed! [...]

oh babe, poor Ella! My kids had that as littlies. And ’slapped cheek’ and the wonderfully named ’school sores’ that one returned from school camp with. *shudder*

Now I have to worry about ‘hangover’ and ‘pregnancy’…

Kelleys last blog post..Dont you hate it when..

Oh no, poor thing. We just got through 2 lots of Coxsackie Virus in our house Twin B had it and then very kindly passed it over to Twin A as soon as he was done with it. I hated being in quarantine for those couple of weeks.

Tonyas last blog post..BLOGALICIOUS TIDBITS

Poor little monkey - and poor you! Now tell the truth, Jennifer. You’ve been putting her out to pasture while you blog, haven’t you? Did she catch it from some sheep?

Seriously, I hope she’s better soon.

andis last blog post..That’s Queen Dumbass to You

Aw, sorry to hear about her ILLNESS. Hope she gets better soon and hope that Carson doesn’t get it next!

SherE1s last blog post..Someone found their nose

Hope she’s feeling better soon!

Beckis last blog post..Please Vote for Maggie!

This is really true and funny. Please sign the petition in my name.

Poor baby! Hope she is feeling better! And I totally agree…they need a human specific name. That’s just wrong.

Karlys last blog post..Sentences. That Don’t Go Together. Whatever.

[...] (I think Carson just has a cold, not Ella’s “cock sucky” or “hoof and mouth disease.”) [...]

poor ella! poor you! Chase my 2.5yr old used to get it all of the time (or at least that’s what our old, LAME ped would call it)

Disease def. needs to be chopped off the end, sounds way more horrible than it needs to.

Christines last blog post..A trip to Home Depot started out innocently enough…

That is a horrible name. I remember one of my sisters having that as a child. I also remember seeing it listed on the list of childhood diseases complete with photos in the nurses office at my elementary school. Why?

I hope that Ella is feeling better very soon!

Mommy Daisys last blog post..Full speed ahead

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I'm Jennifer, Mom to Carson, 3, and Ella, 2. Wife and Bossaholic to Tate. My claim to fame is that I'm the #1 search result on Google for "kids pooping in pools!!." You can follow me on Twitter, see my stumbles at StumbleUpon, view my photos on Flickr, and contact me by email.

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