Bedbugs? Molluscum? Help!

[MWestie]

Can anyone help to identify this? On my sons torso and a few others on legs.

They're uncomfortable and slightly itchy and probably started about a week ago and have become worse.

I have no experience of either bedbugs or molluscum contagiosum and can't think what else it could be or from googling.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thank you all.

I'm not sure about shingles...he hasn't said it's really painful although is obviously uncomfortable for him, and I always believed shingles to be very painful with additional symptoms. Apart from this he's fine in himself.

Am googling but think am confusing myself more and more with all the different possibilities...it could potentially be lots of things.

Real sympathy to those who've dealt with molluscum for months/years...that sounds horrendous.

Am at the far end of Pembrokeshire so will go to a chemist I think first. Why do these things always happen either away on holiday or over bank holiday weekend...or both in this case!

If it's one side of the torso then it does sound like shingles. They follow the line of a nerve on one side of the body

Children don't get the same pain with shingles as adults. Ds was misdiagnosed as eczema when he had shingles age 3. Antihistamines and pain killers may help.

I think it looks like scabies. Have you tried an anti histamine OP?

Haven't tried anything yet except some topical tea tree and Savlon (not at same time). Of course have come away without any Piriton/antihistamine so will get tomorrow when go to chemist to ask for their advice.

All of these options sound awful. I'm trying not to freak out as have a younger daughter who has very reactive skin/mild eczema, so the thought of it being something infectious and her catching it too is striking fear in me!

Poor boy is trying not to touch/scratch but inevitably he does so is constantly washing his hands.

I had my first bout of shingles at 7. Looked lie that on my shoulder blades and torso. Calamine lotion prescribed but that was late 80s

I hadn't considered shingles at all, I really thought it was mostly older people who had it.

Thank you for all the replies, hopefully the chemist/doctor can identify correctly one way or another.

I think worst case scenario would be molluscum and I don’t think it’s that. I’ve had it and it’s a pain to get rid of.

Also definitely not bed bug bites (also had those). They bite in lines not circles.

Thank heavens general consensus seems to be probably not bedbugs? Don't think I could face dealing with fallout from that just now!

To all who replied last night, many thanks...all checked out with doctor and confirmed as shingles! It never actually occurred to me it might be that until some people suggested it so much appreciated.

I'm glad you got him seen! Did they prescribe an antiviral?

Judging by yesterday's pic looks like you've caught it pretty early so hopefully will resolve quickly. And I'm glad he doesn't feel too unwell with it.

Thank you both! Pharmacist took one look and said shingles straight away. Advised to see out of hours doc so after the whole calling 111 palaver we were called back by a doctor and then saw one at out of hours who confirmed it.

However no antivirals or anything else prescribed, just calpol for pain relief and calamine or similar for rash. Was surprised but she said antivirals only effective at the beginning and primarily for pain relief.

He's got some pain under armpit on same side which she thought was lymph nodes there and the rash site is very itchy and uncomfortable but apart from that he's generally feeling okay so fingers crossed it sorts itself out soon.

One thing I'm still confused about is contact with others...the first doctor we spoke to was very firm that he should be kept away from others, we were kept in separate waiting room etc.

However when we actually saw the second doctor she was much more relaxed and said could only be transmitted by direct contact with the blisters and so fine to be out and about as usual. We're due to stay with elderly relatives very shortly and I'm still concerned...

Shingles can spread chicken pox with contact from fluid from the blisters. It is not airborne like chicken pox so if it can be covered there is little risk.

Thanks @dementedpixie that's what I thought too, but the doctors having different viewpoints was/is confusing.

I think the advice about CP and shingles has changed so much and so fast, people can't keep up.

Yes I think that might be it. Will be my young daughter most likely to get chicken pox now I think, am annoyed with myself as had been considering having her vaccinated. Too late now!

Thanks for all advice, made a big difference to me.

You can still get the vaccination after exposure to CP/ shingles. What advice has changed about CP/shingles?

I'm not sure if official advice has actually changed @dementedpixie but it was interesting/confusing that the two doctors gave usdifferent advice re minimising contact with others.