What on earth is this rash? Should I keep off school?

[OldTiredMum1976]

My 11 year daughter came home from school today with a strange rash on one leg. Doesn’t hurt or itch although she has complained of an achy, sore leg all weekend. No spots anywhere else. She has had chicken pox when younger and is fully vaccinated. I have no idea what it is or if I should keep her off tomorrow in case it is contagious.

Can anyone help?

I'd try to get a GP appt in the morning or at the very least, see the pharmacist?

Depending on what they say, she might be ok for school afterwards.

You're going to get all sorts of 'that looks like....' answers on here but unless they're from a qualified medical professional, they're not a reliable answer. 🤷‍♀️

I did take her to the pharmacist on the way home from school but they didn’t have a clue. I’ll try and get a doctors appointment but it’s almost impossible at ours so I don’t hold out much hope.

Have a look for the Aysa app on Appstore. It is for skin conditions. You upload your photo and it will bring up a list of what is most likely, starting from the one it thinks it looks most like. Then you can compare with the photos it brings up and it gives details about each thing that looks the same/similar. I would also try and get a doctors appointment if its possible

Could be petechiae

It's shingles.

Yes, it looks exactly like when I had shingles. Very unusual in children but not unheard of.

Yep…that’s what I thought but didn’t want to say

op, get Gp appointment urgently to rule this out

I thought Shingles is painful/itchy?

I agree, she may be coming down with something, I had shingles at 10 and it coincided with a horrible kidney infection.

My DD7 had it last year and it was just like this.

The pain comes and goes and it is a sharp pain.

We were too late for antiviral, it's within 4 days of the rash.

I used to get 'dots' like that come up later when I used to itch/scratch vigorously.

Another vote for shingles- isn’t always sore to begin with- often itchy. If only on one side deffo shingles imo. Pharmacy might be better than GP- not sure if they’d offer antiviral but she should be off until confirmed and then I think off unless shingles rash can be fully covered… check local policies?

Shingles isn't contagious if it's covered.

My daughter had shingles aged 5! Patch on her left scapula region. I don't remember it starting off how this picture looks, I mainly just remember the blister stage. But obviously time fades memories

Did you specifically ask to see Regsitered pharmacist (vs assistant or counter staff) in consult room?

If you did, and they didn’t have clue then definately GP urgently. Registered pharmacists have 5 years training. Will have seen most sorts of common rashes to vouch at least an opinio, if they don’t know then it means it is GP matter , and they should have said that to you. 😡

Molluscum?

Yes, I agree it looks like Shingles, roughly following a Dermotomal line ( nerve line).

My Ds had Shingles at 2 years old ( after catching CP from his sister when he was 12 weeks old, but had it VERY mildly because of my maternal antibodies).

Also, the leg pain indicates a possible prodromal process ( pre disease symptoms)

Definitely GP for anti viral, push hard for an appt, OP. This is important. Keep her off school as people can catch CP from Shingles. It needs a proper clinician to see it though, face to face, too.

No not always

I would submit an econsult to your GP as well as calling them. You can upload a picture. Often they have appointments set aside for ones that are needed arising
from econsults.

Thank you everyone. Wow! I didn’t know children could get shingles. I will attempt to get a doctors appointments I don’t know who I saw at the pharmacy but I will take her to a different one tomorrow and ask for the pharmacist.

The rash does disappear when pressed with a glass so I’m guessing that’s a good sign.

All the best for you and your DD today, OP. X

How is your Dd @OldTiredMum1976 ?