Coxsackie virus dilemma

My three-year-old has hand, foot, and mouth disease. He's had symptoms
since Saturday, and he doesn't have a fever. I'm trying to decide if
he's well enough to go to activities he loves (story time at the
library, gym class, etc.). Or rather, I think he'd be okay with it -- he
has some energy -- but I'm wondering if I should take him, or if he's
still too contagious.

Everything I've found on-line says it's highly contagious when they have
the fever, but doesn't say about when they _don't_ have one. The doctor
he saw (not his usual one) wasn't much help.

cjra...

According to "Control of Communicable Diseases Manual". 18th ed (kind
of the bible for infectious disease):

"Period of Communicability - During the acute stage of illness and
perhaps longer, since viruses persist in stool of several weeks."

"Mode of transmission - Direct contact with nose and throat discharges
and feces of infected people (who may be asymptomatic) and by aerosol
droplet spread."

So, if he's at all symptomatic, then he's in the acute stage and if the
symptoms were recent, then I'd wait another couple of weeks to consider
him no longer contagious. At that point, it may depend on the type of
activities - those calling for close interaction with other kids would
be out for awhile, but something more individual might be ok.