What to do re: school medicines policy?

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

My son is 3, he goes to a nursery class at a primary school.

He had two tiny spots or something on his face, no problem until he started scratching them as they healed, pulling the scabs off and making them bigger and bigger.

I put a small plaster on each spot. His skin reacted badly so now he has big areas of inflamed rash on his face, which of course he keeps scratching .

I've cut his nails as short as I can and I've been applying Germolene with anaesthetic when he starts scratching, which numbs it so he forgets about it for a few hours. This was working fine.

School called me today saying it's hurting him, but they also have a policy of not administering any medication that's not prescribed by a doctor, so won't apply the Germolene during the day.

I can't get to the school between drop off and pick up, and don't have any friends who could either, or know any other parents. Can I ask a gp to prescribe Germolene? Seems like a ridiculous waste of NHS resources to me for something so minor, but I'm concerned it could get infected if it's not treated. WWYD?

What were the spots? Any chance it’s actually impetigo?

It sounds like it might be impetigo if it’s scabbing

I think you need to take him to the GP anyway because it sounds like impetigo.

Could a pharmacist have a look?

I'm pretty sure it's almost nothing, the two spots we were different and the second one was a very tiny injury resulting in a tiny scab originally. The inflammation was caused by the plasters later.

It could well be impetigo. Regardless, I think with large areas of inflammation on his face that are causing him significant discomfort you need a GP to look at him.

Another one that thinks it’s impetigo.

Just looked up impetigo, it doesn't look anything like any of the pictures. The first one only scabbed after he scratched the top off it, was maybe a small insect bite or something.

The pharmacist is a good suggestion. I would be very surprised if a gp could prescribe germolene.

The marks now are in the exact shape of the plasters, he's definitely reacted to the plasters I think this is quite common?

Doesn't have to be Germolene, the active ingredient is phenol, and I wouldn't collect the medicine anyway it'd just be to show the school so they'd apply the Germolene during the day.

Maybe it's not impetigo, but he's clearly uncomfortable, the school won't administer unprescribed medications, so I can't understand why you wouldn't take him to the GP. No they probably won't prescribe germolene, but depending on what it is they might give him something else eg portion, which would probably be more effective anyway.

Piriton not portion ffs!

Doesn't have to be Germolene, the active ingredient is phenol, and I wouldn't collect the medicine anyway it'd just be to show the school so they'd apply the Germolene during the day

At my school the medication would need to be in the original box with a sticker on it.

Could he be shown how to apply it himself? My daughter's nursery did that with similar a cream. The teacher took it to loom after and watched her apply it when she asked for it.

Photo just now. Really worth going to a GP over? My only concern is that it could get infected if he keeps breaking the skin, it's healing up fine as long as he doesn't scratch it.

Can’t you find a plaster he doesn’t react to and cover it?

When my son had similar reactions to plasters, I used Sudocrem. Is that what they use for nappy rash in nursery? As couldn't they just put a bit of that on?

Germolene won’t be prescribed because it doesn’t actually do any good. What’s helping, as you say, is time. You might want to get an antihistamine cream to put on as it might be more effective.

In truth, it will probably heal anyway.

Wolfiefan there's little space on his face now to stick on a new one outside the irritated area, and these were already hypoallergenic plasters

dobbythedoggy good idea, I'll start teaching him to do it himself - will be messy though, and I'd be a bit worried he might easily get some in his eye

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet no sudocrem without a prescription either , I don't know what they do for kids who wear nappies

CherryPavlova the Germolene has anaesthetic in it which numbs it so it doesn't itch. That stops him scratching it so it can heal.

Does anyone still think impetigo from the photo? It is healing and should be fine in a couple of days at this rate, but only as long as he doesn't scratch it again.

Doesn’t look impetigo ish. But I wouldn’t be putting germolene on it either. And definitely don’t get him to apply it himself. Medicines need to be handed in to staff.
Nails short, gloves or cotton balaclava?
Germolene even says it can cause irritation.

As I've said they won't let staff deal with it if not prescribed though. His nails are as short as I can get them, he wouldn't tolerate wearing gloves or a balaclava all day.

Might that weird spray-on skin stuff be any good? Is it hypoallergenic?

And does it resist scratching?

Have you tried an antihistamine like piriton or a once-a-day one?
That will have more effect that putting cream on it.

Is it worth asking the docs to call you and explaining the situation. Mine would definately help out.
That is a ridiculous policy from nursery though. My dd’s are great with things like this and even keep a stock of calpol to give if needed.