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Original poster

Could this be scarlet fever? DD gone to A&E

35 replies

DDworries · 15/01/2024 20:16

DD is in reception. Her teacher called me at lunch time as she wasn't feeling well and her face had become red and blotchy. I collected her and took her to the pharmacy on the way home for some advice from the pharmacist. She was in good spirits just tired.

Pharmacist said it was likely viral but to have her checked over if it got any worse or spread. It was just her face at that point.

It has got considerably worse since then and has spread to her chest and back. She developed a fever of 39.8 that hasn't responded to calpol. She said everything hurts. I felt her chest and her heart was beating quite fast.

DH has just taken her to A&E.

That might seem a bit extreme to some people but I've had iGAS from strep A when I gave birth to her and almost died. She was 3 weeks old before we left the hospital. I think we are both still a bit traumatised about it.

Does this look like it could be scarlet fever? I know you can't diagnose from a picture and she has already gone to A&E. I'm just really worried and don't know what to do with myself, stuck at home with my other two DC and trying to stop my mind going back to that place 5 years ago 😔

Please be kind.

OP posts:
Giraffe888 · 15/01/2024 20:21

It doesn’t look like when my DS had scarlet fever. I hope she’s ok x

NoKnit · 15/01/2024 20:21

When mine had scarlet fever it looked a lot worse than that on the face all blotchy everywhere.

However the antibiotics cleared it up pretty quickly and they were right in no time. I'm not sure a & e is the right place but am not in the UK.

Hope she is feeling better soon

Pripsen · 15/01/2024 20:24

It didn’t look like that with my DS, but he had loads of non-specific viral rashes similar. However when he did have scarlet fever is wasn’t picked up at the GP surgery cos his tongue looked normal…

Tulipvase · 15/01/2024 20:30

I think it’s perfectly understandable that you reacted in that way. I also know someone who was affected by iGAS.

We have had lots of children at school that have been treated for scarlet fever. There have been lots of differences in their presentation as the order of symptoms varies.

I hope she feels much better soon.

tryingsomethingnew · 15/01/2024 20:31

I think it looks like a viral infection that Antibiotics will help. Mine had rash when having a really high temp. Try to keep busy, and im sure she'll be okay. Wish her better

Tulipvase · 15/01/2024 20:32

Actually, my eldest was covered in a rash when she had slapped cheek. It wasn’t just her face that was red. Also accompanied by a high temp.

Staygoldponyboystaygold · 15/01/2024 20:34

This is how my dd looked when she had slapped cheek. It’s completely understandable that you feel the way you do, I hope she’s better soon. Please keep us updated.

Jap26 · 15/01/2024 20:34

Scarlet fever has a rash that is rough like sandpaper. Whatever it is A and E will be best placed to help. They would always rather you took a child in and were worrying over nothing than didn't go. I hope you get an update soon and she is on the mend soon.

Sapphire387 · 15/01/2024 20:34

Now, that does look quite like scarlet fever to me, the rash has a distinctive 'feel' though, does it feel sandpapery?

It sounds like you have gone through a really traumatic experience. I totally hear you - I had sepsis after my second child and was in intensive care. The emotional and mental impact is huge and I'm not completely ok even after ten years, I can still be triggered.

So a handhold from me to you. She's going to the hospital and they will check her over and look after her.

Clearinguptheclutter · 15/01/2024 20:34

I prob would have called 111 but our paediatric a&e would be helpful in this scenario
hope they don’t have to wait too long

Original poster
DDworries · 15/01/2024 20:38

Thank you for the replies, I appreciate them. Her tongue looked fine last time I checked but she was complaining of her mouth hurting, along with everything else.

I'll have to ask MNHQ to remove these photos shortly but picture 1 was when I collected her from school and picture 2 was taken at around 6pm. The rash has got quite alot worse in that time. I didn't take a picture of her back but it's almost completely covered.

DH did speak to 111 who advised us to take her to A&E if we couldn't get her temperature down. Hopefully she will be triaged soon.

OP posts:
Permanentlyexhausted · 15/01/2024 20:40

Possibly, although it doesn't look like my DD's rash did when she had scarlet fever (and was subsequently hospitalised with a serious life-threatening iGAS infection so I understand the worry). Hopefully A&E will give you some answers.

Original poster
DDworries · 15/01/2024 20:42

Thank you all so much 🥺

Hopefully it's just a harmless albeit unpleasant virus and I can give my head a wobble.

One of her cheeks had a slightly rough feel to it but the rest of the rash feels smooth.

DH has just text, she has been triaged and given ibuprofen. They are going to give her something for the rash.

Would that be something like antihistamines? He didn't say whether they had an idea of what it is yet.

OP posts:
LittleMonks11 · 15/01/2024 20:44

My DD looked like your DD last photo when she had Scarlett fever. Hope she's ok.

Justhereforaibu1 · 15/01/2024 20:46

I hope she gets sorted out soon OP and they aren't home too late.

brainworms · 15/01/2024 20:46

Poor little sausage. I hope she feels better soon.

TootYourOwnHorn · 15/01/2024 20:55

It's not an allergic reaction is it? Tried any new foods in school? Just because of where it started, around her mouth then if she's rubbed her eyes with food residue on her hands. Something to consider maybe. I don't think it's scarlet fever personally but could, of course, be wrong.

Blomdd · 15/01/2024 20:55

DDworries · 15/01/2024 20:42

Thank you all so much 🥺

Hopefully it's just a harmless albeit unpleasant virus and I can give my head a wobble.

One of her cheeks had a slightly rough feel to it but the rest of the rash feels smooth.

DH has just text, she has been triaged and given ibuprofen. They are going to give her something for the rash.

Would that be something like antihistamines? He didn't say whether they had an idea of what it is yet.

Hope she feels better soon. We can't twll you what they're going to prescribe. You'll know soon enough.

DisappearingGirl · 15/01/2024 21:00

Both have mine had scarlet fever. Neither seriously unwell but they did need antibiotics (one of the very few times they've had them).

With DD2 the doctor wasn't entirely sure it was scarlet fever, based on the rash, and didn't want to prescribe antibiotics to begin with. But the odd thing was she kept getting a temp spiking at 38 or 39, day after day, when with a virus you'd expect it to go after a day or two. We went back for antibiotics after a few days and her temp came down immediately.

Original poster
DDworries · 15/01/2024 21:04

I did wonder whether it could be an allergic reaction which is why I took her to the pharmacy but he didn't seem to think so.

She has school meals and they have all sorts. I do remember her saying she had two oranges for pudding.

Come to mention it, a couple of years ago she came out in a slight rash around the mouth after eating strawberries so we haven't let her have them since. I'm almost certain I mentioned that to school.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 15/01/2024 21:08

This was DS's rash on day 1. It then spread and got angrier. It was raised, very rough and like sandpaper. He also had a strawberry, sore tongue and high fever.

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Could this be scarlet fever? DD gone to A&E
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Could this be scarlet fever? DD gone to A&E
WinterMarchesOn · 15/01/2024 21:11

tryingsomethingnew · 15/01/2024 20:31

I think it looks like a viral infection that Antibiotics will help. Mine had rash when having a really high temp. Try to keep busy, and im sure she'll be okay. Wish her better

I don’t mean to be a dick, but a virus is not treated by antibiotics! Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. This causes so many headaches for doctors, when patients demand antibiotics which cannot help their illness, and leads to antibiotic resistance at a population level.

OP - I hope your little one is soon on the mend, whatever the cause.

MargaretThursday · 15/01/2024 21:13

I'd say slapped face. (also called palvro virus). It can cause very hot temperatures in children and the typical rash is on the cheeks but not round the mouth.
My dd1 had it with big circles of red all over her limbs too - in fact the doctor suggested it could just be an allergy, until dd2 got it and it was more obvious.

Scarlet fever feels like sandpaper and tends to start on the torso, so I don't think it is that.

shams05 · 15/01/2024 21:46

Both my dds have just got over Scarlett fever, the rash was not as visible as your dd's, but my four year old said her skin felt like it had sand all over it. I think she meant a sandy sensation more than anything else.
Her first symptom was a horrible taste in her mouth and sore throat with a very high fever.
Over the next 24 hours she started vomitting, complaining of aches in her legs and her tongue developed a thick white coating which gave way to a sore, dark red strawberry like tongue. They were both prescribed 10 days of penicillin, tomorrow is the last day for both of them

Original poster
DDworries · 15/01/2024 21:46

Sapphire387 · 15/01/2024 20:34

Now, that does look quite like scarlet fever to me, the rash has a distinctive 'feel' though, does it feel sandpapery?

It sounds like you have gone through a really traumatic experience. I totally hear you - I had sepsis after my second child and was in intensive care. The emotional and mental impact is huge and I'm not completely ok even after ten years, I can still be triggered.

So a handhold from me to you. She's going to the hospital and they will check her over and look after her.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's terrifying isn't it? I have no memory of the first week I was there, the second is hazy but I remember the third week very clearly and it was hell. I've never completely recovered and have a bunch of health problems now that I didn't have before. Sepsis is devastating and I find that I'm on 'high alert' for any potential infections ever since.

Thank you so much for the kind words and I hope life has been much kinder to you since ❤️

OP posts:
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