Would you call 111 for this? DS 16 months

[Pinkstuffs]

DS 16 months unwell since Wednesday. He has antibiotics for tonsillitis which he started Friday. He’s actually seemed better today and just ate some dinner and had a bottle. Noticed in the bath he’s covered in a red rash, it fades and feels quite rough. He’s asleep now, would you call 111 tonight or wait until tomorrow?

Im allergic to penicillin so worried it’s a reaction. This is the fourth time he’s had tonsillitis since he was 6 months old and no reactions previously.

Sounds like Scarlet fever

Absolutely, no harm in calling 111 is there? Better to be on the safe side. I say that as someone who very rarely goes to the GP, has (fortunately) never taken a child to A&E etc. I think it would be the sensible thing to do.

I would go to A and E at that age,but I am very anxious.

111 at least.

Worth checking out with a 111 call I think.

I’d err on the side of caution and give 111 a ring.

Might it be a viral rash? Mine always got a rash a few days after a fever.

Definitely 111 at that age.

Yes give 111 a call although ours woukd tell you to take him to A&E anyway.

Definitely 111 but maybe a&e depends how well they seem.

Just to try and alleviate your worries... would a reaction to the antibiotics not have show sooner if he had been on them for 2 days? I hope he is ok.

It's probably a viral rash rather than a reaction to the antibiotics. If his temperature has come down and he seems better in himself, I wouldn't be too worried but of course call 111 if you are worried

This is what 111 is for. Call them.

I’d call them for a child of that age and I’m very much on the laid back end of the spectrum.

I probably wouldn't call as the child is responding to the antibiotics and feeling better, but absolutely no harm in calling if you are worried. I would assume a viral rash unless symptoms change or worsen. Hope all is well.

Does sound like scarlet fever, DD had a horrible sandpaper rash with that.
I would call 111 to make sure they have given you the right antibiotics and also scarlet fever is a notifiable disease so they should take swabs to confirm it

Could be scarlet fever, which is effectively a form of strep tonsillitis anyway. Could also be a viral rash. If he is on antibiotics already I wouldn’t be too worried, but I think it wouldn’t be at all OTT to call 111 — they may be able to book you in to see OOH in case he needs a different antibiotic, or to check for a reaction to the antibiotics.

At 16 months you should never worry or feel guilty about getting medical advice or an appointment to be seen at OOH or A&E. Any health care provider would rather see a child that age, even if not immediately necessary, than take even a small risk that something important gets missed. Hope your LO is better asap, OP ❤️

I’ve called 111 and they’re sending me to OOH in a bit, I feel very dramatic now!

Better safe than sorry!!! Baby will likely perk right up and the rash will vanish the minute the doctor walks through the door and make a liar of you 🤣🤣🤣

Absolutely not dramatic! Best to get the little chap checked over. I bet he’ll be all smiles to the nurses too 😁

Not dramatic at all. When they are under 2 and/or non-verbal they are still so little, and can’t tell you enough about how they are feeling to take a chance, so it’s really important to get them seen.

Do you know what form your penicillin allergy takes?

Historically it was massively overdiagnosed in kids with a viral rash, whose mums were then told it was a penicillin allergy.

It's known that about 90% of people who think they are penicillin allergic turn out not to be when tested.

Obviously if your allergy was anaphylaxis, completely ignore this!

Glad your little one is being checked out and has you looking after him so carefully.

Yes it’s hives. But I’ve not had it for years, since I was about 7 years old.

Have a look at the PEN-FAST tool - there is a big push to get people who aren't allergic to penicillin back able to take it, as there are life or death situations where only penicillin will do.

5 years or less since last reaction - No. 0 points
Anaphylaxis, angiodema or severe skin reaction - No. 0 points. By severe they mean needed hospital treatment
Treatment required for reaction - Unknown (being cautious here). 1 point.

On my scoring, you score 1 points which is low risk of a positive penicillin allergy test and you could safely be prescribed penicillin without further testing.

When your little one is better, it's worth you going back to your GP to ask if you are really penicillin allergic.

My daughter had exactly this and it was Strep A (causes tonsillitis and the scarlet fever rash). Give 111 a ring, insist to be seen in person (ours was misdiagnosed by 3 clinicians over photo/video call appointments but the second seen in person we were sent straight to A&E). Definitely call as you don't want to risk Invasive Strep. We left it after being misdiagnosed as just tonsillitis and she had to be syringe fed for days as could hardly swallow water.