Severe itching. Possible eczema? advice needed please.

[Myworldjusthim]

Sorry if I’m posting in wrong section.
I have an almost 3 year old. (3 in few days) she has had an occasional patch of eczema here and there but most of the time it doesn’t cause any major issues and is easily cleared up with moisturiser.
She recently had a mild viral infection. She had typical cold symptoms and conjunctivitis. All gone, and now she’s broken out into a rash. Small raised red bumps. I’ve been to the gp twice and he said definitely eczema. Anyway I’ve been given a moisturising lotion and hydrocortisone cream.
she has spent the last 2 days itching non stop at the bumps/eczema. I can’t stop her. She wakes up with it and scratches for 3-4 hours and finally cries herself to sleep for a few hours and then wakes to do the same. The GP is convinced it’s eczema. I’m not entirely sure as it’s not the usual dry patches, but more like small spots. When i first saw them I thought measles, but he said no and she’s had no fever etc.
what I’m confused about is that her body has gone from no spots to 100s in a few days following this horrible virus. Can viruses trigger eczema flare ups? And can anyone tell me if eczema can appear as small spots/bumps?

My eczema is small spots and lumps and is far worse in summer than winter. To prevent it, I take an antihistamine every day but I'm unsure if you can do that with a small child.

You can get a post viral rash. Try some antihistamines.

My DDs eczema always gets worse when she is ill so could be that, maybe calamine for the itching or aloe Vera gel may help soothe or kids piriton could help

Poor love. I'd go and see the pharmacist to be honest and ask what they have in the way of a suitable antihistamine or anti itch cream. I'd try and keep her cool and try lukewarm baths before bed with something like Oilatum or similar eczema bath additive product in - most of them are suitable for babies and Boots usually have a decent selection.

Make sure her nails are kept as short as possible.

Keep in mind that it may be scabies (body lice). Especially if the bumps are on the backs of the hands between the fingers, or if the itching is worse at night. The GP doesn’t always diagnose scabies correctly, it’s easily treated with lotion.

Thanks for the advice ladies. I’m going to see if she can take an antihistamine. Would certerizine be any good? Think my son took that when he was 2-3 years old for hay fever. Or do you think the piriton would be more effective?
it’s definitely triggered by the virus, but it’s all over and nothing seems to be calming it down. She just scratches it non stop and seems to be really distressed with it.

How would I know if it’s scabies? Are there any tell tale signs

DH caught scabies at work and gave it to me. Although, it was on other parts of the body it was worse around by leg/public area and around my waist.

DD has always had eczema on inside of her knees and elbows, it gets worse when she's poorly and in the summer. She gets into a horrible itch-scratch cycle if we aren't very careful and ends up scratching her skin off leaving it bleeding and raw.

What we do is:

• antihistamine to manage hayfever and reduce itching
• Luke warm baths with no products. Sometimes hang a sock filled with oats and tied in a knot under the hot tap as the bath is filling to leave the water oaty which is soothing. Wash her hair separately so the shampoo isn't getting on her skin.
• thick ointment several times a day, the stuff in the pot rather than pump - zerobase, epaderm she has a small pot in her school bag to use before going out on the field at lunch as the grass makes her legs go instantly red and itchy and the cream acts as a barrier.
• overnight she wears long sleeves and long trousers, 100% cotton and light so she doesn't overheat but helps to stop her nails scratching her skin off in her sleep.
• keep her nails short and filed.

If it gets really bad then I have some bamboo/cotton socks that I've cut the toes off of, and they get pulled up to cover her knees/elbows as some nights she has really damaged herself and woken up with gouges and blood all over her sheets. Then they're washed in a hot wash with sensitive skin laundry powder.

We also use steroid creams when she's flaring up.

It can be difficult to know if it’s scabies. Often the bumps are worse between the fingers when it’s scabies, but that’s not always the case. If the itching becomes worse at night that can mean it’s scabies. And if other treatments aren’t working it can be worth trying the scabies lotion.

Our lg had this, Dr was convinced it was really bad excema. He did suggest trying some Puriton before embarking on steroid treatment.

One spoon that evening and it was honestly gone the next day. Kids are wierd.

Worth a try anyway.

Good luck op, its horrible seeing them suffer