What are these spots - bed bugs?

[Okaaaay]

Posting shamelessly here for traffic.

My DD started with strange spots on Thursday last week. On her torso, front and back and upper legs. Nothing much (if anything) anywhere else. She had been swimming a lot over the last week and we thought it was a reaction to chlorine initially. However, new ones have appeared here and there since. She has no symptoms, no itching and is fine in herself - they aren’t bothering her in the slightest. I’ve looked through her mattress and there is nothing to see. No blood spotting on her bedding or signs of bed bugs. But what else can it be? Surely if they were mosquito bites (or some other insects) they would itch? We’ve been away recently and my DH works away so it’s totally possible we’ve brought them home.

Does anyone have any proper experience of bed bugs? Could you see clear evidence of bugs on bedding (their poo / blood spots)? Did the bites just appear in high numbers over night or was it gradual? Does this look like the usual pattern on the skin? Completely freaking out.

@gah2teenagers yes she has - but the spots are quite localised and she is fully vaccinated.

@mindutopia swimming pool but not hot tub. Spots look bigger than folliculitis (to my untrained eye)

It looks like there’s the same little bubble-like spots you get with chicken pox.

Most bites tend to have a puncture in the middle of the raised red bit.

My DD got two of those spots but no other symptoms when CP was going round nursery at Easter time and then came down with it proper in October of the same year.

Looks like a viral rash not bed bugs. Check with GP

It looks like molluscum contagiosum to me. I caught it from DS last year, took months to go away so make.sure not to share any towels or.bedding if it's that

@HangOnToYourself thank you, will check that out. They don’t look as dome shaped as some of the examples but wouldn’t rule it out.

Thanks all - so it seems BB less likely, possibly Covid / viral and more unlikely measles / recurrence of CP. Will see if she is any better tomorrow and get her to the GP if not.

molluscum contagiosum can grow to look like a tiny carrot, conical anyway. Seem to remember they favour creases in the body?

Whoops posted too soon but definitely molluscum contagiosum can get a blister

You're welcome - I think with the number of spots your daughter has you would see evidence of bed bugs straight away when you check - so hopefully your mind will be put at rest quickly. Hope you get to the bottom of what is causing the spots and that they disappear soon.

Has she been in any hot tubs/warm pools. Do any of them look pustular? Could be foliculitis. It tends to be self limiting but if she's unwell or it's getting worse see your GP x

Sorry just read your whole thread. My money is on folliculitis if she's spent lots of time in pools. It tends to affect areas that were under bathing suits worst. If you're in any doubt see a GP as it can need antibiotics to clear

This is how it came up on me on my leg for comparison if that's any help

I think it could be molluscum too. Took ages for it to go away when DD had it but none of the rest of us caught it.

Looks like folliculitis. Small red spots with an (eventually ) white head.
I went through a phase of getting folliculitis even without swimming in sight.

Brill - thank you all (MN always amazes me)! They don’t look pustular like CP do, but some do have a pin prick head if that makes sense.

So I’m seeking help again - same issue but the plot thickens. To recap. My DD started with a strange spotty rash in August. It wasn’t itchy or CP (no other symptoms). It took about 10 days to settle (pics are in first post on this thread). DS was fine. Put it down to a viral rash.

But since (so last 4 weekend), both children are getting smaller numbers of spots - on their torso, legs and one of two on their arms and feet. They are not itchy at all but the latest of my DDs looks like a bite (third pic with angry looking spot). They’re not in the typical bed bug cluster and no blood seen on sheets etc.

I just don’t get it. Why are they both getting this? Why (if it’s something is biting them) was my DD absolutely covered in 60ish spots (first post pics), whereas now she has about 10 spots? Why are me and my husband not getting bitten? We all have separate bedrooms but A LOT of bed hopping and co-sleeping happens. What is going on? Pics including DDs angry looking spot and 3/5 of the spots my DS currently has.

They look a bit like flea bites. Do you have any pets? Funny they’re not itchy, though.

@watcherintherye thank you - no pets and no regular access to anyone’s pet.

Hand foot and mouth?

@ladydimitrescu could be but I think it’s unlikely. Only spot one between them on their hands, feet or mouth (and no other symptoms). Plus it’s been going on a month.

Have you not been to the Dr by now?? This has been going on over a month!

@LucilleDarlingtonUnexpectedly no I haven’t. To be fair, my DDs first faded and then it’s been a random few here and there but nothing much. It’s only just started to ramp up again. Plus I have done a tonne of research (using dermatology sites and comparing pictures) and neither are poorly in any way so don’t want to waste time. Will get onto it.

Fair enough. It is strange. Yes I think you’re just going to keep getting guesses on here. Do update though! Hope all ok.

They look like different issues. Your original pictures looked viral, your recent look like a bite reaction. Small spiders can cause these and this is the month they start entering our homes and whilst they don't feed on us they do bite in defence. Imagine walking across a lovely warm surface looking for dinner or a nice place to sleep and suddenly its starts moving! We use our hands and legs to hold on, they use their fangs. Actually it doesn't have to be spiders as a lot of insects are hankering down including ladybirds.

Just shake/change bedding and towels, hoover everywhere and release any beasties you find.

hunkering not hankering, although they could be hankering after a safe place to hunker down in

@Pixiedust1234 thank you and I will do. We are overrun by spiders. But I don’t feel like they are the issue given the children both have a few (spiders usually bite once). But good plan - everything will be getting a thorough clean!