What is this rash in my son? (pics incl)

[SpidersAreShitheads]

Hi all,

I’ll start by saying we’ve got a GP appointment later but I’ve panicked myself by overthinking so thought I’d post here in the meantime.

My DS 12 has this rash on his legs. I only noticed the rash last night but the two bigger blotches have been there about a week. The rash is like pinpricks.

Negative LFT, no other symptoms. No temperature, no weight loss, good appetite. Four nights ago he had a headache which is virtually unknown for him but it settled with Calpol and hasn’t recurred. Absolutely fine in himself.

We have been doing some moving around of furniture and the floor was absolutely filthy where we moved bunk beds etc - crumbs and dust etc. He’s normally more or less naked and just wears a nappy (he’s autistic). Was wondering if maybe he came into contact with it before hoovered etc and it’s irritated him? Rash isn’t itchy. Rash also doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass.

I’ve managed to completely panic myself that it’s leukaemia or something awful. For context, I suffer from anxiety and other things are really stressful right now so I could win an Olympic gold in the sport of ridiculous worrying. My DS has no idea I’m anxious.

Should I be worried about the two bigger blotches which have been there about a week? Or the pin prick rash? Has anyone had anything similar?

Please help save me from my idiotic brain.

Looks like what my DD had. Was petechiae brought on by ITP. Basically her immune system was destroying her platelets following a cold. Apparantly it's very common in children and usually clears up by itself. More of a problem in adults. DD was in her 20s and spent 2 months in hospital until she was fixed.

I had HSP as an adult many, many years ago. It’s difficult to tell from your photos. My rash was much more red/purple and I was extremely tired and had various other symptoms.

If the doctor doesn’t seem certain as to what the rash is, it’s worth mentioning HSP as my GP didn’t bring it up, just referred me to dermatology. Maybe that was because I was an adult and HSP is apparently more common in children but my dermatologist said GPs aren’t always clued up on it. Has you son had cold, cough, sore throat, chest infection? Apparently it can start after an infection. I had recently had a cough.

Hopefully it’s something more simple, like a reaction to the dust. Glad you’ve got an appointment, hopefully you’ll get some good advice.

To be fair, people can guess all they want as I'm not relying on their answers - I'm seeing a doctor very shortly. My post was really just inviting people to speculate and hopefully to set my mind at rest a bit (which they have done).

Sometimes you just need to hear that there are other possible explanations when you’re fearing the worst. And those few hours before a GP appointment can be dreadful when you’re worried.

Before I was diagnosed with HSP, my depression said there was various explanations, many of them nothing to worry about. The important thing is you have an doctors appointment so you’re on the way to finding out what it is and getting treatment if necessary.

depression = dermatologist 😬🤣

@FatCatThinCat oh blimey, that doesn't sound good - two months in hospital!!! Glad she made a full recovery.

@JustAnotherMe - absolutely no bugs or anything at all. My DC have been home educated since the pandemic - coincidental timing really - and the upside of that has been none of the usual school-related colds, coughs and illnesses. Definitely no other symptoms. What was your rash like - was it flat or raised? His is quite bumpy in places.

@JustAnotherMe

To be fair, people can guess all they want as I'm not relying on their answers - I'm seeing a doctor very shortly. My post was really just inviting people to speculate and hopefully to set my mind at rest a bit (which they have done).

Sometimes you just need to hear that there are other possible explanations when you’re fearing the worst. And those few hours before a GP appointment can be dreadful when you’re worried.

Before I was diagnosed with HSP, my depression said there was various explanations, many of them nothing to worry about. The important thing is you have an doctors appointment so you’re on the way to finding out what it is and getting treatment if necessary.

Yes, exactly this!!

I'm also autistic and have ADHD and once I get an idea in my head it's really hard to shake it. I find it so hard waiting - I've got a load of work that needs to be done (self-employed = deadlines) but I can't concentrate on anything.

The replies here have really helped me gain a bit of perspective. Honestly, the leaps in logic and wild conclusions I can draw when left to my own devices is something truly to behold.....

SpidersAreShitheads

Mainly flat but some of the bigger areas were very slightly raised. But they were very red/purple until they faded. Then I’d get another lot of them start. When they faded, they’d leave an orangey stain on my legs. My dermatologist did explain that, I think it was to do with the iron in the blood.

But it was very much under the skin if that makes sense. So not like a dermatitis/eczema rash that’s more dry on the skin if that makes sense.

Have you seen the GP yet?

Sorry for the delay in updating - DS finds trips to doctors very hard so it’s been a tricky afternoon!

They think it’s a microbial infection, got antibiotics and a cream/wash thing. No soaps etc to be used. The rash is a combination of bumpy and pin pricks. They think the bigger ones are just where one has expanded - I’m not 100% sure about that but will see.

With no recent history of illness, coughs, colds etc they really don’t think it’s anything else. I asked about the dreaded leukaemia and they were certain that as no other symptoms - paleness, fatigue, poor appetite etc - it’s nothing to worry about. Her words were “well, just looking at him it’s clearly not meningitis” - that’s when he had gotten over his anxiety and was bouncing around the room 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😂

It was a trainee GP but the senior Gp came in to double check and do an exam herself so I feel they were really thorough.

I’ll get him back if it doesn’t start to clear up.

Thank you again to everyone for commenting earlier - things have been so shitty here recently, I was really struggling to think about this sensibly. It really helped to calm me down while waiting for the GP. Much appreciated ❤️

Did they not want to do bloods to test his platelets? This is what my daughter had in 2018 and we rushed her to a&e suspecting meningitis rash…she was perfectly well in herself. She had her blood platelets checked and they came back at 4, the norm is 150-350, so you can imagine our panic! She was diagnosed with ITP and has had it 4 times since, every time she gets an infection. Basically the body fights the infection and then continues to destroy it’s own blood cells. She has recovered well each time and within two weeks thank goodness but it’s worth getting a second opinion as they have to refrain from sport etc until the platelets return to normal.

Also, just to add, every time we have taken her to hospital with it (we’re now under GP) nurses used to come in to have a look at the rash as they hadn’t seen anything like it before…it’s quite rare. Some GP’s are not up to speed with it, so I would advise a second opinion or ask to have a blood count done as that rash is identical to what my daughter gets. I really hope it isn’t and that their diagnosis is right but i just wanted to share our experience of something similar. 💗

Also, just to add, every time we have taken her to hospital with it (we’re now under GP) nurses used to come in to have a look at the rash as they hadn’t seen anything like it before…it’s quite rare. Some GP’s are not up to speed with it, so I would advise a second opinion or ask to have a blood count done as that rash is identical to what my daughter gets. I really hope it isn’t and that their diagnosis is right but i just wanted to share our experience of something similar. 💗

Sorry, it posted twice as the site crashed! 🙈

@JustBkind - oh wow, that sounds scary!!

I questioned them very heavily but they seemed absolutely certain it's just this, and nothing else. I'm going to give the antibiotics a couple of days, but if they don't start clearing up the rash I'll go back. The new GP/senior GP both agreed on the diagnosis so I've sort of already had a second opinion.

He's not bruising anywhere else, he has no other bleeding issues, no inflammation of gums etc. No recent history of colds or illness. Also, because a significant proportion of the rash is bumpy and raised, it's more suggestive of a dermatitis/microbial reaction.

@JustBkind - thank you for sharing, it's really useful to know what to look out for and what it might be.

As he's well in himself, and the signs do point to a microbial infection, I'm going to give the antibiotics a go. Plus, getting blood from him would be very, very hard indeed. Getting him through the door at the GP is hard enough - he would be hysterical at having bloods done. Obviously if necessary we'd have to figure it out somehow - but I cannot overstate how traumatic he'd find it. I won't wait until the weekend though if there's no sign of it clearing up - if things aren't improving I'll get back to the GP.

I just quickly googled ITP and they say it most frequently comes on after a viral infection and very often doesn't need any treatment at all in children, so it's something I'll keep in mind but won't panic about just yet.

Thank you again though

I completely understand but wanted to share just in case. Wishing your son a speedy recovery from the rash xx

Thanks for updating, hope it clears soon and good news he's well in himself!