Scarlet fever? Taking DD out?

[sparklesandbling]

Called 111 and they were not interested.

DD has a rash spreading from thighs to neck, temp was 39 going down to 37 yesterday so rang hospital (couldn't help as not seizures).

Rang 111 and they were not concerned.

If it is scarlet fever I read on NHS website it is contagious.

I heard another mum at school saying this was what another child had a week ago so not plucked this from the sky. Her rash looks like sf.

DD is 4.5 and has severe learning difficulties so cannot tell us if in pain/discomfort.

The thing is we cant get to see Doctor and was wondering if I would be unreasonable to take her to pharmacy and show them rash and see if they could tell us if it is serious.

[bakingtins]

If it's SF she needs antibiotics and you need to see a doctor, not a pharmacist. If GP is not open over the weekend phone out of hours number and insist she is seen.

[bakingtins]

There is a SF outbreak in my area (Bristol) I thought it had been eradicated and only appeared in Victorian novels...
Hope your DD is ok.

[hazeyjane]

If it is scarlet fever she should have penicillin. Have 111 not said they will call back?

[hazeyjane]

If there is still an out of hours service (ie not changed to 111) can you call them?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Take her to OOH to get penicillin. Then she needs to be isolated til ahe has been on them for either 24 or 48 hours, I can't remember which.

[hazeyjane]

It is 24 hours (dd1 had it a couple of years ago).

If you go to OOH, then you need to forwarn so that she can be isolated, unfortunatley most OOH have been replaced by 111.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Dd and I both had it last year. I have a goldfish memory! :)

[sparklesandbling]

111 did call us back but said that it was a rash due to virus. They were not interested.

Apparently the Doctor can diagnose over the telephone without seeing the rash himself, perhaps I may be missing something but I thought rashes had to be seen myself to know what they are????!

DD does appear to be scratching herself where rash is. She is a little bit off but temp is 36.8 so not overly concerned.

What I am concerned about is the fact that she may be contagious and I cannot get anyone to help me as 111 is such a shit service.

[hazeyjane]

Yes-I got the scarletina version!

There are 3 cases in dd's school at the moment, along with mumps.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I would call back and say that there is a scarlet fever case in school so can you please be seen.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I got it worse than DD. Fun time.

[hazeyjane]

Does she have the strawberry tongue? (google it) The rash is quite distinctive as I remember.

[ThefutureMrsTatum]

There is a breakout of SF in our area too (Cheshire), several children at DC'S school have been ill the last few weeks. We were told to keep them off school and take to doctors immediately for antibiotics. 111 Is like calling a call centre, you may as well call sky or British gas for advice, no more qualifications than those people on the phone. Call again and insist on an appointment at the local out of hours.
hope she feels better soon x

[monopoly123]

My DD has had this (I think), I took her to OOH on the Saturday morning (when the rash was visible and her tongue was white, high temp) - the doc showed me a picture of the strawberry tongue and told me to bring her back if that happens. So we did - she had a 10 day course of penicillin, but no swabs, no alerts, no quarantine advised and told to return her to nursery when she was well enough.

[hazeyjane]

Yes, I think if there are cases around your child, they err on the side of caution. Call 111 back and ask to be seen.

[sparklesandbling]

The school hasn't issued any alerts over SF, it was another mum who told me this. She said that a boy had been off school with SF and that he and the rest of the family had also been ill.

The mother who told me this had her son with her who is in DD's class and had a temp at the time. This was 7 days ago.

DH says that DD's tongue is normal colour. Otherwise she is very pale on her face.

Probably worrying over nothing, if I could just see OOH and not use 111 this would be have been sorted out easily.

[FrigginRexManningDay]

I would ring back and asked to be seen. Theres SF outbreak here too, along with hand foot and mouth.

[Poppy67]

Phone your local A&E for advice.

[HDEE]

It's far, far more likely to be slapped cheek. Google the rash, it's almost identical. It effected my children's entire bodies, and was worse when exposed to sunlight (was very hot summer).

[Edenviolet]

Dds pre school have had an outbreak offs. I'm dreading dd getting it, does anybody know how long the incubation period is ? Dd meant to be having a vaccination today but I'm worried she may be brewing sf and not sure if I should postpone ? She's not ill at all today but she has type 1 diabetes so I'm over cautious. Sorry for hijacking x

[Edenviolet]

Of sf

[MoominsYonisAreScary]

If it is sf you need abs, they need 48 hours of ab before they are no longwr infectious.

[ChestyNut]

Nhs choices says 2-5 days hedgehog

OP she definitely needs to be seen for antibiotics if it is SF. It's also a notifiable disease so GP needs to report it.

Did you tell 111 she may have had contact with SF and now has symptoms?

[MeepMeepVrooom]

Have you tried NHS 24? I've had to use this service a couple of times. Once they decided it was best for paramedics to be sent out to take us to hospital (suspected meningitis), and another they made an appointment at the hospital for us (tonsillitis and ear infection)

As others have said, if it's SF she will need antibiotics

[Ubik1]

111 Is like calling a call centre, you may as well call sky or British gas for advice, no more qualifications than those people on the phone.

I hate it when people peddle this dangerous attitude. The call centre is staffed with call takers, nurses and GPs. It appears op has spoken to a dr. She is unhappy. The right thing to do is call backing say scarlet fever is going round and would like her daughter seen.