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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take him to hospital?

59 replies

Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:11

My little boy (nearly 2) has been poorly now for a few days, and I noticed these marks on his foot yesterday, and today I’ve noticed them on his leg, I thought seeing the initial one yesterday on his foot possibly h,f&m but now he’s got them on his leg so I’m not sure. He’s got a cough, cold, temperature and just genuinely unwell. Pictures attached when they upload x

To take him to hospital?
To take him to hospital?
To take him to hospital?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Sortofdontwantto · 04/05/2025 10:14

Why don’t you call 111? Is he seriously unwell?

Could it be chicken pox, measles, any number of viral illnesses. Is he vaccinated?

Sortofdontwantto · 04/05/2025 10:15

Really cute chubby feet by the way!

Millyjanice · 04/05/2025 10:15

Call 111
They can advise whether he needs hospital or a doctor appointment

KnickerlessParsons · 04/05/2025 10:15

The red spots look like bites.
I don’t think you need to go to hospital for a cough/cold and temperature. Have you tried paracetamol?

TeenLifeMum · 04/05/2025 10:15

Call 111 add they will give advice or arrange an out of hours gp appointment - soooo much better than A&E. We used it recently and it was a fab service.

GoodOnPaper · 04/05/2025 10:16

If you press a glass on it does it disappear? If not you should get him seem urgently.

Original poster
Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:16

Sortofdontwantto · 04/05/2025 10:15

Really cute chubby feet by the way!

Thank you! He’s fully vaccinated , last time I phoned 111 I didn’t grt given very good advice so it kind of puts me off a bit 😩

OP posts:
sparepantsandtoothbrush · 04/05/2025 10:17

Hospital for what look like a few hives? No.

Call 111 or wait until the GP is open on Tuesday but it's not an accident or an emergency (just from those pics alone)

Original poster
Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:18

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 04/05/2025 10:17

Hospital for what look like a few hives? No.

Call 111 or wait until the GP is open on Tuesday but it's not an accident or an emergency (just from those pics alone)

No that’s fine I just didn’t know. So is that what it looks like then? It’s not really that alone he’s had a fever and he is unwell I just didn’t know if it was together and linked!

OP posts:
Whatbloodysummer · 04/05/2025 10:23

It looks like Hand, Foot and Mouth disease to be honest.

If it is, it's a viral infection which typically lasts 7 to 10 days and is just treated like any mild viral illness.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 04/05/2025 10:23

It doesn’t look like a hospital thing, they look like nothing to be honest! Could be hives, could be a bug bite… could be absolutely nothing.

It’s foolish to be put off 111 though, if those bumps did look serious they might be able to get you an appointment so you can skip waiting in a&e for 10 hours on a bank holiday. They have a solid purpose even if you didn’t like one person working for them so when they are needed phone them!

Sortofdontwantto · 04/05/2025 10:26

111 are shit but they will get you a doctors appointment if needed.

pinkdelight · 04/05/2025 10:28

Pharmacist could look at the blebs, or 111 for an out of hours appointment if you're really worried. But I wouldn't go to hospital at this point.

Sayithowiseeit · 04/05/2025 10:28

It's not an accident or an emergency, so no.

Count the spots and keep an eye out for more. Looks and sounds like HFM or chicken pox. Give calpol ibuprofen for the fever, and keep up with fluids.

Original poster
Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:30

Thank you I’m thinking hf&m too but never heard of them to be On a leg before 🤷🏻‍♀️ thank you for all your replies x

OP posts:
MeganM3 · 04/05/2025 10:31

From the pics they look like bites

BigCheese24 · 04/05/2025 10:32

Maybe give him a dose of antihistamine in case they are bites?

Original poster
Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:33

MeganM3 · 04/05/2025 10:31

From the pics they look like bites

What sort of bites Nat bites? We have our windows open of a night time so maybe

OP posts:
Namechange3747 · 04/05/2025 10:35

Whatbloodysummer · 04/05/2025 10:23

It looks like Hand, Foot and Mouth disease to be honest.

If it is, it's a viral infection which typically lasts 7 to 10 days and is just treated like any mild viral illness.

I agree. Does he also have any spots on his hands or mouth?

For info, my DS had HFM when he was about 18 months. Had spots predominantly on hands, feet and around mouth, but also legs and wrists and a couple on his torso.

I took him to GP (let them know first so we could be isolated!) who diagnosed chickenpox and impetigo.... I wasn't convinced, but thought the GP knew better! He then got a seriously bad case of chickenpox when he was four and looking back at photos, it was blatantly obvious it was previously HFM.

So, it is possible to get spots elsewhere with HFM.

Seeline · 04/05/2025 10:36

Yes - gnats, mozzies etc.
I expect you've been outside in the warm weather and had the windows open at night?
I'd try some piriton.

BusyMum47 · 04/05/2025 10:38

Looks like HF&M or chicken pox to me. I'd take him to a decent pharmacy today, if you can & see what they think. In the meantime, keep on top of his symptoms with the usual calpol/calprofen etc.

Original poster
Twinmum2025 · 04/05/2025 10:39

Namechange3747 · 04/05/2025 10:35

I agree. Does he also have any spots on his hands or mouth?

For info, my DS had HFM when he was about 18 months. Had spots predominantly on hands, feet and around mouth, but also legs and wrists and a couple on his torso.

I took him to GP (let them know first so we could be isolated!) who diagnosed chickenpox and impetigo.... I wasn't convinced, but thought the GP knew better! He then got a seriously bad case of chickenpox when he was four and looking back at photos, it was blatantly obvious it was previously HFM.

So, it is possible to get spots elsewhere with HFM.

Show quote history

Yeah my older two had it before and they had it just on their hands and feet and around the mouth. He’s got a few near his mouth like cheek area ish. They don’t seem to be bothering him , just the temperature and cold etc.

oh really I did think of chicken pox but none of my children have had it so surely they’d have symptoms too?

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 04/05/2025 10:41

BusyMum47 · 04/05/2025 10:38

Looks like HF&M or chicken pox to me. I'd take him to a decent pharmacy today, if you can & see what they think. In the meantime, keep on top of his symptoms with the usual calpol/calprofen etc.

Don’t take kids with highly contagious infections to a pharmacy, it’s not necessary in this case.

I don’t think it looks like chicken pox, and they often start off in ‘warm’ places like belly, neck etc and look more blistery.

minnienono · 04/05/2025 10:41

Keep an eye on his temperature and give paracetamol, these viral infections need to run their course. If he deteriorates to the point he’s really sleepy, really high temperature despite paracetamol that’s when to seek medical attention

liberfuga · 04/05/2025 10:46

Chicken Pox has an incubation period of 21ish days. And I know this thanks to my two, just as one was fully recovered and back at school the second came down with it

I agree with a previous poster it doesn’t completely look like CP I would expect more blistered spots but that may well come. HF&M is a funny one, my little boy was diagnosed with it last year and he only has spots in his mouth.

I would give paracetamol and hold off on ibuprofen if you suspect chicken pox, as many fluids as you can, water, squash, ice lollies and water based fruit it they can face eating like watermelon and cucumber. Obviously you know them best and any concerns seek medical advice. Wishing them well

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