Sick Children: Chicken Pox and HFMD

July 21, 2015

This July has been a skin slash viral disease kinda month for me. Nurse/Doctor Mommy has clocked in overtime hours like crazy.

A few weeks ago, my two-year-old, Z complained of itchy hands and feet. I noticed her palms and the soles of her feet were quite red. Initially, I thought she had an allergic reaction to something she ate. So I just gave her anti-histamine. In the morning, I noticed that her rash has worsened.

My 9-year-old daughter, N, also showed me a pustule on her thigh which I suspected to be chicken pox because she had several on different parts of her body. Not in clusters but solo.

In the meantime, the rashes on Z's hands and feet were getting redder. I was then suspecting Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

I consulted my husband's cousin (doctors in the family really come in handy) and she confirmed my suspicion (seconded coz she did not really confirm). (She also seconded my opinion on N's chickenpox.) Her mom (who was also a Doc) told me to bring Z to the pedia already. Because if she has rashes inside her mouth, she might have difficulty swallowing, eating and breathing. So I did. Doc said both N and Z have HFMD.

They were contagious. (N said, "so is yawning.") N missed school for a week. I needed to disinfect and change sheets every so often so D, my 7-year-old, did not get what they had.

For Hand-Foot-and-Mouth-Disease, Doc advised to just apply Bactroban ointment on all pustules. Let the kids take anti-histamine to minimize itching. The blisters might be painful at times so if they have on the soles of their feet, keep them off them for the time being. Z had so many blisters on her feet she wanted to be carried all the time. I also let her wear socks and mittens so she wont scratch.

Upside? Z no longer sucks her thumb. She couldn't suck her thumb while she was sick because she had big-ass blisters on her fingertips.

Fast forward to last Friday. Kids were home because of the end of Ramadan. D, my 7-year-old, showed me a budding blister. I told him that that was just a mosquito bite. And he said he has a huge one on his genitals. When I checked, the blister looked like a pox. But I was hoping it was just HFMD that he got from his sisters. Trip to Doc confirmed that it was HFMD. Doc said since both my girls still have scabs from their HFMD, it was unlikely that they would get it again from D. I gave D the same treatment as I did my girls.

Saturday. His chest was peppered with blisters. And it hella looked like chicken pox. I sent the picture to cousin-doctor and she confirmed.

Unfortunately, Z also developed blisters on her neck. She also acquired chicken pox.

My diagnosis/analysis: I was correct that N had chickenpox and Z had HFMD. N's chickenpox was controlled because, being my eldest, her vaccines were fairly complete. She had the varicella vaccine. And since she already scabbed, she gave away her chickenpox to the younger ones.

As advised by the pedia, I gave them both Aciclovir, an anti-viral medication. For Z, Herpex syrup. For D, Herpex tabs. They had to have them 4x a day for 5 days. Aciclovir is pricey. Herpex tabs cost me P101 at Rose Pharmacy and they only had 3 tablets available. Pricey and hard to find! Zovirax is a pricier brand at P171. The pharmacist said there is a discount (30% off) that you can get from the pedia.

I found a RiteMed version of the tablets at only P68 at La Nueva Pharmacy. (We had to drive around town to find the Herpex brand. Hard-to-find!) I also found out that they were also selling the Herpex Syrup at only P500 something. Way cheaper than Rose Pharmacy's P600 something for a 50mL bottle.

However, cousin doc and tita doc told me not to buy any more anti-viral medication for them since the disease will still just take its course even if they take medication. They told me to just apply calamine lotion on the itchy parts and let them take anti-histamine at bedtime. Oh and Vitamin C! I guess to speed up the healing process.

As of today, they are both feeling a little better. No more fever for Z. Many blisters have also flattened. The worst is over. Thank you, Lord!

(Medicine dosage depends on the weight of the child.)

The Temple of Leah: A Symbol of Undying Love and Ceaseless Devotion

22 April 2015

When my sister, Twinkle, came over to visit, we checked out the newest tourist spot in Cebu.....

The Taj Mahal of Agra is one of the most famous structures in the world. The emperor had the monument built in loving memory of his wife (third), Mumtaz Mahal.

The Temple of Leah is slowly becoming one of the most famous in Cebu. Perched high above the hills of Busay, the "temple" is breathtakingly huge.

We entered through the side near the parking area. (We found a really neat spot under a tree.) And then I discovered that Facebook pictures do not really show that the building is still under construction so we had to go through dusty stairs to get to the main floor. But oh when we got to the main floor, wow! Transported to Rome! Or the Parthenon.

The Roman architecture was constructed in 2012 by Cebuano businessman, Teodorico Adarna, as "a symbol of undying love for and ceaseless devotion" to his late wife, Leah Adarna, whose golden image sits regally in the middle of the temple. Awwww...

As inscribed in the temple, he also wanted a structure that would withstand time so that future generation of Adarnas who came from her would be able to go back to their roots.

(A detailed family tree may also be found in the temple.)

When finished, the temple will have 24 chambers that will showcase the lifetime collections of Mrs. Adarna. We saw a library and sections upon sections of porcelain and marble statues and figurines. The items were just covered in plastic and not in glass cases befitting them.

Guarding the entry way of the temple were two giant golden lions (sphinx inspired). On one side, a naked Roman archer poised ready to shoot. There is also a coin operated telescope on the temple grounds apart from the statues found sporadically.

Unfinished, the building was already impressive. The Adarnas are very generous in sharing this edifice for FREE. (Although, I wonder how the workers get things done with so many people checking out the place daily.)

On our way out, I saw mermen lying on the floor. I am not sure where they will be placed but I sure am coming back to find out.

Cooking Mama: Bangus Belly ala Pobre

22 April 2015


My children are fond of fish. The boneless kind. Maybe because that's all we have in the fridge most of the time. Normally, I'd marinate it in calamansi juice, soy sauce/Worcestershire sauce and magic sarap. But since a friend shared his instant fish rub, I'd been using that ever since. But of course, toyomansi is still good.

Deep-fried and crispy. That's how we do our fish. Until I got bored and I tried this....

BANGUS BELLY ALA POBRE

INGREDIENTS

1 boneless bangus belly, marinated with toyomansi
2 tbsp calamansi juice
1/4c soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar / muscovado
1 med onion, cut into rings

PROCEDURE

1. In a bowl, mix calamansi juice, soy sauce and brown sugar. Set aside.
2. Fry bangus belly on non-stick pan (if available). Fry both sides but do not overcook. Fish shouldn't be crispy.
3. Add onion rings.
4. Pour over the fish your calamansi-soy sauce-sugar mixture.
5. Simmer for a few more minutes to cook the fish with its sauce.

Serve with garlic bits on top. (I couldn't coz hubby is allergic to garlic!)