to be very concerned about ds' red mark?

[whethergirl]

DS aged 7 went to stay with my dad for a couple of days. When he returned, I noticed he had a big round red mark on his bum, almost covering one cheek. I asked him about it and he said that it was itchy, then my dad's dp had a look and put some cream on it.

I arranged for my mum to take him to the docs this morning, to get it checked out - also there was a bit of bleeding on his penis. He has had this before actually, and when I took him to a walk in clinic last time, they said it was a scratch/graze.

Anyway, the first thing the doc said upon seeing the red mark was to ask my mum if he had been smacked. My mum replied, no, he doesn't get smacked. He said there was no dry skin there so was a bit baffled as to what it might be, and advised to leave it for a few days to see if it goes on his own accord.

I am now really concerned about this unexplainable red mark that occured when ds was not in my care. I know my dad wouldn't ever smack him (he brought me and my sister up, never smacked us).

I've asked ds about it and he just said he remembers it being itchy. I asked him about it again today and he got a bit annoyed/upset because I was asking him the same questions (he was very tired and grumpy at the time). I feel sure he would tell me if anyone had smacked him...I can't imagine that he wouldn't. However I want to take him back to the docs to get a second opinion from another doctor. AIBU to feel very troubled by this?

I would be troubled, but if you DS gave the same answer every time, he's probably telling the truth. He has no reason to lie to you.
Maybe he sat in something?

I don't think YABU, but I do think you are possibly over reacting to his bum.
I'd be worried about his penis TBH. I don't have a boy, but I don't understand how he could graze it unless he zipped it into his trousers.

Well you're not BU but you might possibly be over thinking it.

If he says it's itchy then I doubt he's been smacked.

Perhaps it's just a skin flare up, it happens at this time of year when it's cold and we're all constantly clothed with the heating on etc.

He's had eczema before but this is something different....an almost perfectly round mark.

ripsishere - the only reason I wasn't too concerned about his penis is because it looks exactly like what he had before, and the nurse told me at the time that it can happen with a fingernail or if something small got lodged under the hood.

I think the doctor freaked me out a bit by outright asking if he had been smacked.

Almost perfectly round sounds a lot like ringworm to me.

Really WorraLiberty.....will google that now. Am amazed the doctor wouldn't have thought about that though.

It's certainly a possibility...have a look at Google images.

Thanks worra, I've had a look, on NHS it describes the red patches as being rings, and many images show this although some do show a solid red round patch like ds'.

If it's itchy and perfectly round then I'd be willing to bet it's that

Perhaps another trip to the GP?

Sounds very like ringworm to me. Will need antifungals if it is, so do go back to doctor for a second opinion and meanwhile make sure he doesn't share towels etc as it is contagious.

Thanks everyone, unfortunately he is staying with my mum until Saturday (quite far away) as it's half term, so will have to take him when the following monday. Meanwhile I'll see if my mum can take him to the pharmacist and get something to put on it.

Eczema often appears in rings, the skin doesn't have to feel dry it just itches. It only ends up dry if no moisturiser is applied over time. Don't know why doc asked if he'd been smacked as its very fleshy area so smacks would quickly disappear. As for the willy he will be playing with it, hes a boy they do this, its natural. Maybe he was a bit rough with his foreskin, it happens.

it wont be ring worm, ring worm are small patches of scaly skin

Its sounds a bit big to be ringworm, the only ring worm I've seen is quite small and defo wouldn't cover a whole cheek. How old is your ds? Maybe bring it up again when he's not tired/grumpy?

sparkleyangel, he has had eczema before but its strange its just one big round patch on his bum, nowhere else. You're probably right about the willy.

He is 7. MrsRhettButler I think I've actually asked him about it too many times (when I first saw it, this morning, this afternoon) and he has told me the same story in detail; he was in the car with grandad to go and buy some chicken feed when his bum felt really itchy, and at some point my dad's dp had a look at it and put some cream on it. I'm surprised they didn't mention anything when they dropped him off but maybe it wasn't as big or red.

Could he have sat on something that's triggered a reaction?
Juice or similar spilled on the car seat seeping through his clothes?
Something in his pocket thats leaked through?
Does your dad use a different laundry product to you, my son wore underpants that had been washed by MIL in biological detergent, his skin got red and itchy around his groin and bum

Has he lent against a radiator? That would itch and leave a round red mark but he may not have registered it as its an unremarkable event iyswim?

I had something like this but it was on my tummy. Try googling 'pityriasis rosea', it starts off with just one patch, called a "herald patch". It's itchy and if it is this, you'll find that more come up in a week or so. Docs don't know what causes it, and it disappears on its own with no lasting effects. Not contagious either.

Does it have sharp, well defined, edges ?

If no bruising, is surely much more more likely to be skin condition ?

Would to different doc for 2nd opinion.

Also maybe his penis is itchy with same infection and he is scratching ?

Again, 2nd opinion would be handy.

Could it be thrush???

My daughter suffers from eczema and came home from school one day complaining of an itchy bum cheek. It was very red, turns out she had sat on a wet carpet at school that did it. Could he have sat on something?

What cream did she put on him? My son had an allergic reaction to cream we put on his willy when he had an infection! Also if she rubbed cream in in a circular motion (as you would expect) it could explain the perfectly round mark.

One of mine had the pityriasis rosea at four. The herald patch was about the size of a 50p, then she was covered in a rash over her trunk, but nowhere else. Took the doctor a while to work it out.

The radiator is my favourite explaination at the moment. He may not have realised or did and thought he was stupid so didn't want to say.