Help me diagnose DD

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She is 20 months and has eczema which seems to have flared up on her arms and legs. But she also has lots of blister on her hands and the skin surrounding them is red - this has not happened before.

There also seems to be something wrong with her throat. She hasn't eaten much for dinner the last couple of days and cried tonight every time she ate a raspberry. I think she might have an ulcer on her tongue but she wont let me close enough to look properly. She goes from being a happy toddler to screaming her head off if something doesn't go her way (more than usual!). She does not have a fever.

Anyone had a similar experience? My 2 suspicions are either bad hand eczema and a sore throat or hand,foot and mouth disease.

I'm planning on a GP visit on Monday but I'm a bit confused about what to do until then. If her hands aren't eczema I probably shouldn't be applying her usual steroids to them- but if it is then I dont want to leave it untreated for a day.

I’m not a doctor but might it be hand foot and mouth? That causes blisters and she may have them in her mouth - the acidity of raspberry would certainly sting!
www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/
Here’s the nhs info with some pictures.
Hope your dd feels better soon.

When DS got chicken pox it started exactly like this, right down to the blisters.

Sounds like hand foot and mouth

Oh wow. I hadn't thought about chicken pox. Were the blisters all over his hands and fingers but nowhere else?

I did think about phoning 111 tomorrow but as her hands do look horrific. But I dont want to waste NHS time and money

That is not a waste of time or money. That child is exactly who we want to see using out of hours care in the NHS. Best have someone take a look or chat to a GP. If she's not eating or drinking she may become dehydrated.

Thanks Rosere. She is drinking a lot of water and doesn't say no to 'treat' type food or food that is easy to swallow such as scrambled eggs so I'm not to worried about dehydration or anything like that yet.

I thought hand, foot and mouth as I read your post

Also coming on to say hand foot and mouth

Never feel silly for ringing 111! They'll be happy to help and reassure you. A couple of times they've got me a weekend GP appointment in my area so they may offer you that, which saves you worrying until Monday. Sounds like when mine had Hand,Foot and Mouth but could be chicken pox. And so confusing when eczema flares up and there's something else wrong, it seems like two different things tho. Mine grew out of their eczema (except for the odd flare up on a hot day) at two after having to do the Aveno and special bath washes etc so that may happen! Hope she's on the mend soon it's so stressful worrying about them isn't it!

Another one for hand, foot and mouth. It's the time of year for it too.

Sounds just like HFM to me, mine had it at a similar age. Chicken pox often show on the trunk first.
Try and get fluids down, ice lollies might help too or ice cream(although seems odd in this weather!) we gave her soft, non acidic foods for a few days. My DD went off orange juice and still won't touch it now.
You could try a chemist tomorrow if you've got one locally, the pharmacist can often give advice but if you're at all concerned then call 111
Hope she improves soon OP

Sounds like HFM to me too. I hope she's over the worst soon.

Thanks everyone. Can I ask anyone with experience of hand foot and mouth if a lot of night wakings are common? Last night it was every couple of hours

Could be eczema herpeticum? (Cold sore virus infecting eczema). My dd had it at that age. Was a bit grim and needed antibiotics and antivirals, but she was all better in a week or so.
Would be worth a trip to out of hours tomorrow if it’s that.

Night wakings could just be symptomatic of general discomfort - eczema is a bit itchy / spot in her throat hurts when she swallows etc. When DS had it (twice) he was never really, really unwell, but he obviously felt sort of... generically shitty! Good news is if it is HFM, they don't seem to be unwell for too long. Hope she feels better soon.

I dont think eczema herpeticum as the blisters look a bit larger than the photos online and it seems to be contained to her palms and fingers.

Have a look here, it may be helpful patient.info/skin-conditions/viral-rashes/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease

I’d say HFM, lots of discomfort and broken nights not unusual with a bad bout. Hope it passes soon.

Sounds like hand foot and mouth. Night wakings normal- I think they’re quite uncomfortable in the same way that chicken pox is. It doesn’t look pleasant, but it cleared up quickly and said didn’t seem to be in a lot of pain, just uncomfortable and couldn’t eat because of the mouth blisters. Def a trip to the docs

Another vote for hand, foot and mouth here. Both my DC started with a very high temperature spots came out the following day. Grouchy for a few days, off food for about a week.

Does sound like HFM. Hope she's ok.

Yes we had lots of night wakings. Their poor mouths were so sore. Didn't help that they relied on dummies to settle but sucking hurt their mouths.
The good news is that the worst of it was over in a few days - the rash however took a lot longer to go.

Also (didn't happen to us) I was warned that sometimes they can lose finger and toe nails a week or so later.

I have spoken to 111 and they think she needs to be seen by an out of hours doc so just waiting for a call. Thanks all.

Sounds like HFM but good idea to get her checked if you are unsure. Mine suffered more with HFM than with chickenpox, horrible virus!