any idea what this is?

[gypsymummy]

DS who is 5 started feeling unwell on wednesday : fever ( not too bad) and complaining he is not feeling well and saying his throat hurts and generally tired and pale ..then bouts of vomitting but not too bad as he does eat somewhat and keeps the food down but today i noticed his skin looks blotchy and i suspect he has a rash..he is generally better although he did wake up last night to vomit..i will see gp if he isn't better on Monday but any idea what this could be? i have been giving him Calpol but that is it.

[girliefriend]

Sounds viral but any sort of rash and I would keep a close eye and ring the oohs gp if need be. Has he had a high temp?

[gypsymummy]

yes he has girliefriend but the fever is on and off..his temp is not always high but when he does get hot i give him Calpol..he also says his fingers itch but only his fingers?? ..

[DeWe]

Where is the rash?

[gypsymummy]

DeWetiny flat pimply like bumps mainly noticeable on face -which looks puffy and flushed- his arms, back..torso in general..not pronounced or red but when you feel the place they are raised

[Lovebendicks]

I'd give oohs GP a ring just to set your mind at rest

[girliefriend]

Have you done the glass test? I always think meningitis when rash is mentioned. Personally for peace of mind I would ring the oohs gp for advice.

[gypsymummy]

yeah ladies thanks ..i just thought i may hear from someone who has been here before and can spot the syptoms..he is fast asleep now but wil keep my eyes open and check with oohs tomorrow..DS2 seems to be going down with it now

[DeWe]

Might be scarlet fever. I remember the rash reminding me of sandpaper, mostly over the torso, wasn't very red for my girls, but felt very rough, perhaps a bit like very concentrated goosebumps. Both my girls had it and didn't have any medication for it.
Could be slapped face if it's over the face, and the sore throat a separate thing. It's quite red, and, when mine had it, I thought it was sunburn at first. It was large red dots on face, and limbs, but spread to torso. The dr. tried to explain the charactistic rash on the face leaving (I think) a sort of white band round the mouth, but the cheeks flushed.
Or it could be neither. With those symptoms (over the internet) I would keep an eye on and not heitate to take him in to be seen if you notice he's getting worse.

[girliefriend]

Sounds like you are in for a long night if both of them have it!!!

Hope they are o.kay and start to get well soon, Dewe I thought you had to have a long course of antibiotics for scarlet fever?

[DeWe]

Some Gps do give antibiotics for scarlet fever. To be honest I wouldn't have taken them to the doctors as they weren't that unwell if it hadn't been that I knew that they'd been in contact.
Apparently scarlet fever used to be a lot worse. I was told they think it may have evolved to be a less bad disease than it used to be, although you still have to watch it.

[gypsymummy]

thanks ladies..he has woken up feeling better today and even the rash has sort of subsided..no fever yet and a good appetitte:) DS2 seemsl normal too..i did suspect scarlet fever DeWe yes and would have taken him to GP if it persisted till Monday but seems( fingers crossed) that it is all over for DS1 and as for DS2 hopefully he will not get it although i realie how conatgiosu it can be if indeed that is what it is?