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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Itchy forehead - misdiagnosed?

9 replies

meimango · 30/04/2008 21:49

Any ideas? I went to the HV for baby weigh in at 17 weeks and commented on LOs baby scratched forehead (nails down as far as possible already, scratch mitts get mouthed off as he uses his hand for soothing) HV said that LO had dry skin and to get some dibrobase for him and keep using the dentinox cradle cap shampoo for the remainder of the cc. So we persevered with that for four days whilst the scratching and cuts continued. In the meantime his forehead and eyes came out in little itchy angry red bumps. Went to the walk in hospital as GP was full as due for 4 month immunisations following day, and wanted to rule out anything other than a bad reaction to the dibrobase. But dr at walk in centre diagnosed as impetigo as dr said there was a slight golden glaze. (Very, very slight i may add - could easily be his pigmentation as quarter chinese) Anyway he's on oral antibiotics and was told to go back to using olive oil on cradle cap - but don't use the dibrobase until antibiotics have cleared up the spots. Nothing for the itchy dry head!!!! Following day, i go to GPs for immunisation and the nurses say 'that's not impetigo' that's dry skin! I don't know whether to come off the antibiotics - and i certainly don't want to put dibrobase on his head again. And in meantime LO is very unhappy with an extremely itchy head . Any suggestions please!!!! So horrible to hear LO in distress...

OP posts:

Original poster

meimango · 30/04/2008 21:54

*nothing for itchy dry FOREhead/eyes...

OP posts:

EffiePerine · 30/04/2008 21:56

Can't you use olive oil on his forehead as well? Less chance of an allergic reaction (he may have been reacting to the diprobase)

Original poster

meimango · 30/04/2008 21:59

Thanks for reply Effie - so quick. Yes, I've olive oil on there today - but still scratching up a storm!

OP posts:

EffiePerine · 30/04/2008 22:02

Just that I know my DH reacts to stuff like that and he has eczema

I'd cary on with the ABs as well just in case - esp as you've started the course

Snowstorm · 30/04/2008 22:02

We found diprobase (if that's what you are meaning) very thick and heavy and I don't think I would want it on my face or the DD's faces. DD1 had cradle cap on her forhead for quite some time as a small baby. I'd be tempted to use olive oil in small amounts and aqueous cream as often as you can bear to put the stuff on, to see if that helps at all.

As for carrying on with the antibiotics or not ... well I'd probably ring my GP and get his/her advice, if not in person then over the phone, if only to feel reassured that if the anti-biotics were prescribed without your baby really needing them, that I wasn't harming him at all (which I'm sure you're not).

In the meantime, you are right to keep your baby's fingernails as short (and as clean) as possible.

Good luck, I hope it all gets sorted out very soon.

EffiePerine · 30/04/2008 22:03

for itchiness, what about bicarb in his bath? Supposed to be good for chicken pox and the like...

too young for piriton I suppose. Is there a safe antihistamine for under 1s?

firststeps · 01/05/2008 09:26

Epaderm is really good for eczema and dry skin conditions, you can also use it as a soap in the bath. You can get it on prescription, also hydrocotisone cream can take the the rednessand itchiness away. We have just been prescribed both for DS2 who has little red angry patches of eczema on his cheeks and they are working a treat. I would def go back to your GP.

Original poster

meimango · 01/05/2008 10:19

Thanks again Effie, there's only one more day to go on the AB so will finish the course and have continued with olive oil, but fraid head looking worse than ever! I tried the bicarb in bath this morning and was a calm bathtime. Will ask about anti h.

Cheers Snowstorm. Yes! Diprobase! It really would set lo off. I rang GP this morning but their quota was full again, but as a bub, they were able to schedule lo in for tomorrow. Should def find out about AB and work out what's going on.

Thanks firststeps, glad to hear you've found something for ds2's eczema. I've a sneaking suspicion that it may be the case for lo - but don't want to pre empt. Shall find out at GP tomorrow. Dr at hosp said if AB hadn't cleared it up, after 5 days, then would be looking at steroids. Sounds pretty drastic and already on such a medicalised route for a touch of dry skin! Sure there must be a gentler way. The Epaderm sounds good. Well i'll find out tomorrow!

OP posts:

helibee · 03/05/2008 00:08

hi meimango hope your ds's skin is a bit better. My ds (8 months now) was like this from 3 1/2 months and he was diagnosed with eczema-we found putting socks on his hands at night stopped him scratching his face to shreds. We use diprobase and it has worked a treat for him, but every child is different and what works for some doesn't for others. Anyway now he has doublebase on in the bath and diprobase on after and he doesn't need socks anymore as his eczema is controlled. Occasionally he needs a course of hydrocortisone (only on prescription from doc's for face). Good Luck

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