What do you reckon measles, rubella or allergic reaction?

[KarmaNoMore]

Posting in chat for traffic, I have gone into NHS 111, and waiting for a call from the nurse but the site says that they may call but... may not if too busy.

Teen DS woke up with a rash on Thursday, he has acne so we thought it was just spreading but now is covering his face and his torso. He had a bad headache on Thursday night and Friday morning, but other than that and the rash he is ok.

He has only been out for a Lateral Flow test last Wednesday, went for a walk on Friday last week. He is fully vaccinated (and prone to allergies)

He has another LFT at 3pm, shall He miss it just in case?

I’m discarding chicken pox as he had it years ago.

Looks sort of similar to when my DDs had Scarlet Fever.

It looks rough to the touch. Is it? That should narrow it down. Scarlet fever is the obvious one. Not as alarming as it sounds.

I wouldnt be impressed if asked to process a sample for lateral flow from your child right now. I'd ring school and explain he's unwell and wont be attending for the second test.

No idea what the rash is. Given his allergy history, presumed vaccination against MMR, and lack of social interaction, I'd go for allergy, with second option of some sort of viral rash. What are his toes like (thinking covid rash/covid toes).

Ahh... I was not expecting that! The rash feels a bit “pricky” at some places when you run your hand over it, the face is full of raised red blotches.

He had a COVID test on Wednesday which was negative, so I suspect the toes are fine.

Hopefully his jabs included meningitis - does rash fade when pressed?

It mostly does. I don’t remember if he had the meningitis vaccine. Do they apply it in school?

That does look like scarlet fever rash. Get him to stick his tongue out - does it look like a strawberry?

Try the glass test on his rash to check it fades too.

If it is Scarlet Fever he will need antibiotics.. he's infectious until then.

The thing is... it is also on his face not like red cheeks but like a rash that has joined together, particularly on his forehead, the tongue is fine. Just took his temperature and he has a fever, he has gone back to sleep.

If it was not because we are in lockdown and there are so few measles cases in the country, I would swear is measles...

He needs to be seen urgently by gp if you're that sure its measles.

I would ring your gp surgery and ask for an urgent consultation, tell them you can send photo.

I'd say it was an allergy. Give him an antihistamine.

I'm not a medical professional.

An allergy with a fever though?

Whatever it ends up being, the possibilities that it's something serious mean op shouldn't wait on 111 nurse calling back.

He’s not on any medication is he?

My useless GP doesn’t offer appointments to non emergency cases since months ago, my last appointment took ringing every morning for 3 weeks even when it was deemed urgent at the end. He has only had the rash for 2-3 days. Given that it can be infectious I can’t take him to A&E.

The fact that 111 said it was going to be a nurse calling make me hope it is not an emergency, but I will call them again.

Nope, no medication at all.

And agree, allergy reaction with a fever...is unlikely.

If I had to say just from looking at the pic and the temp I would suggest scarlet fever.

Defo worth calling 111 again.

Scarlet Fever is what it looks most like to me as well.
Scarlet fever feels rough (sandpaper) to the touch, I don't think measles does, but I haven't seen that in 40 years!
Mine never really got the strawberry tongue with it, so don't discount it because of that.

However ds gets viral rashes and he's had ones of various descriptions and some have looked similar.

But it is an emergency case! (Potentially). Have you tried calling the GP? They normally take severe rashes very seriously.

Why does his tongue look like?

I meant what does his tongue look like and yes it is a serious question

Looks like when I had rubella as a child

also matches images searches of rubella pretty strongly

Looks like scarlet fever to me too. Our whole household had it when DD1 brought it back from nursery - a week between each case. Either way I think it needs a Dr appt, can you send them pictures?