Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To go back to the doctors

21 replies

worriedathome · 15/02/2015 21:34

My son developed a rash on Wednesday on his neck and top of his chest. I took him to the doctors on Thursday and she said it was just a rash because he had a virus. However it has now spread to his back and down his arms and is blotchy. I have checked and it fades under a glass but I have no idea what is going on. Am I wasting the doctors time and resources by going back I don't understand why it isn't clearing. Does anyone have any experience of this I feel like I'm overreacting.

OP posts:

mom2twoteens · 15/02/2015 21:37

If you're worried, you are not overreacting. GPs are known for missing things and not referring people to keep costs down.
Maybe a visit to A&E would be in order, not the correct use of A&E but they will take you seriously.

How is he in himself?

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 21:38

Has he a temperature?

Rivercam · 15/02/2015 21:38

You are not wAsting the doctors time. Tomorrow it will be four days since you last went, and the rash has got worse, so it's worth going again.

justabigdisco · 15/02/2015 21:39

Please don't take him to A&E. As PP said, this is not the correct use of A&E. You will be seen by a very junior doctor. Your GP will also take you seriously. Call them tomorrow morning, or out of hours tonight if worried.

helensburgh · 15/02/2015 21:39

I'd go back, I know scarlet fever doing round just now, we all had it a few years ago, it's v easily treated but starts with a sore throat, temp,and nausea, then a rash.

Is it like sandpaper?

DishwasherDogs · 15/02/2015 21:40

Is he ill as well? Temperature?
If you're worried tonight ring 111. I wouldn't take him to A&E unless you thought he was extremely ill.

AnyoneforTurps · 15/02/2015 21:40

Don't take him to A&E. The chances are that you will be seen by a junior doctor with no paediatric training. Take him back to the GP if you are concerned. Rashes often do change so it's probably nothing to worry about, but no one will think you are over-reacting if you get it checked out.

DinoSnores · 15/02/2015 21:43

"GPs are known for missing things and not referring people to keep costs down."

mom2twoteens, this is absolute nonsense.

GPs are hardly "known" for missing things. GPs are human, humans sometimes make mistakes, GPs sometimes occasionally make mistakes like we all do.

GPs refer sick children to hospital if they have any concerns, regardless of cost.

worriedathome, it does sound like a viral rash (my DS does the same any time he is unwell, yet interestingly my DD doesn't) and hopefully it will all settle, but as you have reasonable concerns about things not settling, do back to see a GP.

arethereanyleftatall · 15/02/2015 21:44

I would take him back to doctors.
But I wouldn't worry about meningitis - afaik the rash is the last thing to appear and they would be really really Ill if they had that, with high temp so if it's just a rash it's unlikely to be that, I think.

Musicaltheatremum · 15/02/2015 21:52

"Gps are known for missing things" how rude.
Occasionally yes but diseases evolve and over a few days can change and it can be easier to diagnose at certain stages of an illness than others. Rashes are notoriously difficult sometimes and it is like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle at times.
Also diseases do not read the text book so present in unusual ways.

Musicaltheatremum · 15/02/2015 21:54

Oh and to the OP I'd be more than happy to review you. Reassurance and review is part of the job.

Wozald1989 · 15/02/2015 21:54

Has he a sore throat? Bright red tounge? Then could be scarlet fever. If he seems well in himself then would make an appointment for tomorrow am

Silvercatowner · 15/02/2015 21:57

Unless he is quite unwell (temperature, headache) I wouldn't take him. But I am of a generation where we didn't bother with doctors and hospitals until body parts were dropping off.

PacificDogwood · 15/02/2015 21:57

If you are worried, get him seen.

It is worthwhile looking at the 'whole package' wrt to children with rashes: how is he in himself? Fever or not? Active or not? Eating and drinking or not? Interested in life and playing or not?

The vast majority of childhood rashes in the context of febrile illness are viral and often non-specific rashes. Relatively speaking, meningitis is rare (devastating of course, but rare).

If you are worried, do get him reviewed - a huge part of a GP's job is ruling out the rare-but-serious and (hopefully) being able to reassure.

Many many conditions needs a bit of time to develop and IME often people/children present v early and whatever it turns out to be has not 'declared itself' yet. So a review is often useful if things have moved on a bit.

Good luck

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/02/2015 21:58

I would phone the out of hours doctors.

Don't take him to a&e unless told to, if it contiguous then a waiting room full of people is not good.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 15/02/2015 22:14

Sorry musical but my GP DID miss something very serious twice with my child. We ended up having to take him to a private doctor who immediately sent him to the hospital, where he had to stay for four days.
My advice to the OP would be to try to see an out of hours GP ASAP.

Eltonjohnsflorist · 15/02/2015 22:17

I'd phone the GP tomorrow and make another appointment but nothing more urgent than that as there doesn't seem to be any significant or new symptoms?

I'd had scarlet fever, you'd be very ill and it's quite a distinctive strawberry rash which also doesn't disappear under a glass.
Absolutely not A&E, it's quite worrying anyone would even suggest it

Ikilledlucybeale · 15/02/2015 22:25

GP tomorrow. It's worsened, not unreasonable to get seen. If he's more unwell with it, out of hours GP tonight if you're worried enough.

Absolutely not A&E, sigh. That's the place for a seriously unwell child, and/or non-blanching rash.

Original poster

worriedathome · 15/02/2015 22:32

Thank you for your responses, it's so difficult sometimes to know what to do for the best. I won't take him to a and e as the local one is notorious for a lot of drunks and long waits and tbh I don't think he is that sick. I'm going to call my GP in the morning and see if she will give me a telephone appointment.

He seems fine in himself probably just me freaking out at seeing the rash spread. Again thank you x

OP posts:

Musicaltheatremum · 16/02/2015 07:32

Mushy, I'm sorry about that but that doesn't mean you tar us all with the same brush. Maybe that's why no one wants to be a GP any more.
I am sure I have missed things or diagnosed slightly later, I'd be smug to suggest otherwise,but I have also diagnosed a lot of things correctly for example TB in a man people had written off and I had to phone the consultant to suggest it. There is a difference between not getting the diagnosis and being negligent. I am really sorry that your child has suffered but please have a thought for the rest of us who see 90% of the illness in the UK.

OP I hope you get it sorted out.

editthis · 16/02/2015 07:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flip