Not to use this steroid cream on my 7 month old?

[bluejeanswhiteshirt]

My 7 month old DD has developed a red rash on her cheek which is slightly raised and bumpy. It looked worse this morning so took her to the pharmacist who said see a GP so took her to out of hours with suspected impetigo.

After waiting 2 hours a nurse saw us and said she had a bit of a fungal infection and prescribed Fucibet antibiotic and steroid cream to use twice a day. Just got home and read up about it and I'm not sure I want to use such a strong cream on her delicate skin. Would it go away on its own it I keep it clean and dry or should I use the steroid cream??

Use the cream. Fungal infections don't go away by themselves.

Well it really is up to you the steroid will bring inflamation down and it usually works quickly so you dont use it for long just use the antibiotic if you are unsure

Use the cream

I'm a big believer in not being afraid of using stronger steroid creams for bad eczema. However, I think you ask for a 2nd opinion because the NHS choices information on fucibet says it shouldn't be prescribed for infants. Not sure if I have got the right cream though?

It must be infected with staph as neither ingredient is an antifungal The cream is all in one so it will work fast. My ds had impetigo once and I treated it with mild tea tree in a carrier oil but he was older.

Is it combined i misread use the cream

Impetigo can spread untreated and is very infectious! My sons have had it and couldn't go to school until it fully dried out. Use the cream!

Dd2 had suspected impetigo, I challenged the doc, got "let off" with emulsifying ointment (very simple formulation/base waxy cream) and it's cleared up almost immediately. No need for steroid creams or scary fungicides.

Just out of interest, do you use baby wipes on your dcs face? I've since switched to a warm face flannel/dry with a towel/ add cream (when possible, obv not when out and about) and it made a huge difference.

Worth trying the less harsh/medicalised options first IMHO.

Look, don't ask internet strangers to diagnose your baby. No one can have the slightest idea whether the infection will clear up on its own. If you're worried go back to the doctors (or at the very least the pharmacist) and discuss the side effects.

agreed. If you want a second opinion go consult the person with the medical knowledge, the one we are all paying for. Anyone can write anything on the internet.

I don't use anything on her face other than water and cotton wool but since we've started teething and weaning, it's very rare for her face to be dry!

It's a combined cream with 0.1% antibiotics and 2% steroid. It seems that Fucibet is only used in extreme cases when it comes to babies. Here's a pic.

If she thinks it's fungal I don't know why on earth she's given you fucibet as that is a steroid and an antibiotic, not an anti fungal. I also would not give fucibet for the face as it has a potent steroid in it and would only give fucidin H which has a mild steroid in it. I would actually only use fucidin by itself for impetigo. But honestly if she said it was fungal and gave you this is be a bit [sceptical]

I don't understand this; you visit medical professionals, receive a diagnosis, collect a prescription and now you can't decide whether to use it?! Impetigo can spread like wildfire and I wouldn't take a chance with a baby so young. Use the cream, please or next time don't waste valuable resources...

Misread the name of cream, also thought it read Fucidin which I've used successfully on my son...

Seriously, as special says, we pay our taxes so as not to have to rely on random non qualified people for our children's health. Call the doctor and ask for clarification. infections can be very serious in very small children so please don't just assume this will clear up.

Seems ok on NHS drugs list though...

Thanks for the photo, it's difficult to be 100% sure with these rashes but I wonder if it's secondary to drooling. I would use a shed load of Vaseline on it over the next couple of days and see what happened. I wouldn't use fucibet on it at all. I sometimes use my fail safe which is timodine which has antifungal, antibacterial and a mild steroid in it.

Is the rash where dribble comes down the side of her dummy? Could a different dummy help?

It's NOT impetigo, I said it was suspected impetigo and that's only what the GP said over the telephone when I told him the problem. The nurse at out of hours said it's a bit of a fungal infection but she's had similar in her neck creases before and it's cleared after being cleaned and dried.

But, if you're in doubt, call back as mellowjello says.

I would call back. If nurse said fungal and gave that cream, that's the incorrect treatment.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/eczema-%28contact-dermatitis%29/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Skin%20infections&medicine=Fucibet

Does she suffer with eczema at all OP? That looks a lot like a rash one of my DC had that turned out to be infected exzema and spread like bloody wildfire.

As an aside, my 8 month old has a steroid that isn't normally prescribed to infants on somewhere on his body twice a day, every day and has done for 4 months, and it's done him no harm whatsoever. Personally I'd use the cream, I think sometimes going nuclear and getting shut of it is the best course of action.

A steroid cream isn't going to do any harm over such a short period of time.

We used steroids on my 5 month olds eczema with amazing results.

She's never suffered with eczema so it's strange that this has appeared. I don't know whether to wait until Monday to see our actual GP or whether to start using it but I'm not really comfortable with the idea.