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Children's health

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Original poster

3.7 yr with full body rash and high temp now for 4 days

23 replies

120feetOfSnow · 30/12/2010 20:01

I've looked up roseola and scarlett fever and know there are any number of viruses, but can't really work out what this is. I'm worried because it seems to come and go, instead of spiking and then disappearing. We keep thinking she is better.

DD woke on boxing day complaining of a tummy ache and was a bit hot, but nothing special. By the end of the day she was really hot and quite upset. The next day she developed a very bright pink rash which was flushed in the face, and her body is covered in tiny spots that actually make her look pink all over. It also itches and blanches. The rash comes and goes with the temp, so may be heat rash, but it seems to be sort of drying on her face with the skin looking a little flaky. The rings under her eyes is now looking a little dark, which may just be general ill health. She is also off her food, big time.

We all had swine flu before Christmas, exept her, but we didn't get any kind of rashes.

Does anyone have a clue what this could be?

OP posts:

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 30/12/2010 20:21

bump

OP posts:

mamas12 · 30/12/2010 20:25

Have you talked to a health profesional about this at all.
4 days is a long time to stay the same.
Phone nhs direct.

sneezecakesmum · 30/12/2010 20:27

Flu (swine or otherwise) doesnt usually involve a rash, though there are loads of viral rashes out there. The scarlet fever one involves a dreadful sore throat, fever and the rash feels rough like sandpaper. I'd give the GP a ring to see if it needs identifying. Rashes are a nightmare to identify unless you can actually see them.

CarGirl · 30/12/2010 20:28

I would see the dr but this sounds like the virus mine have all had, they are older and no rash but I think the rash could be prickly heat?

Have you looked up rubella?

Their temps kept going up and down and it lasted 5/6 days and a week on from the end of the temp they're still not 100%

mummytopebs · 30/12/2010 20:35

My dd had roseola and the rash comes after the high temp. You get the high temp for 3 or 4 days then the rash, once the rash comes the temp disappears so it doesnt sound like roseola. I would take to the doctors seem as it is still there since boxing day. Get well soon x

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 30/12/2010 20:47

Thanks. CarGirl, I think it is just one of those viruses too. Mamas12, the impression I got from the chemist was that it could be any number of things and he just handed over vast bottles of calpol and ibuprofen to ward of the temps.

MTB, thanks for ruling out roseola, my feeling was that it wasn't consistent, as that can also have vomiting with it.

SCM no sore throat so maybe not scarlet fever.

I was going to give it 5 days and then see if she still had a temp. Now I'm wavering as tomorrow is my last day to go to the docs though, otherwise it'll be a nightmare until tues. Hmm. She is generally a very robust child and isn't limp or dosy. We actually thought she was totally better this morning and then the rash and temp reappeared this evening. I did go through the NHS direct questioning (hideously annoying though it is), and it said I should contact someone, but then it usually does with a high temp in a small child over 4 days. When my son had swine flu, I actually thought it was teething for the first three days as he always throws a high fever so maybe I'm not the best judge! Aghhh...

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mummytopebs · 30/12/2010 20:52

I would def take to the gp as it will be a nightmare over the weekend for health care. DD didnt have vomiting with roseola but temp was over 40 for 3 days and the rash def only comes out on the 3rd or 4th day and as I say the rash appearing gets rid of the temperature. It was def roseola that dd had, as she had had a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis as she was in hosp with the temp as she was only 9 month, and the roseola showed up on the lumbar puncture.

Its awful when they are poorly and you know the doctors are going to be shut. DD has croup at the minute and we went to a drop in centre on boxing day and waited for 3 hours!!!

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 30/12/2010 20:56

Gosh, poor you that is so young! DS had chickenpox at 4 months, which was nasty, but at least it is very obvious what it is. Croup is really nasty too, isn't it? Yes, it's the hanging about in surgeries with a sick child. I generally think most things are better sorted by leaving them in bed and giving calpol, water and peppa pig!

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bubbleymummy · 31/12/2010 00:29

Measles maybe? The spots can kind of join up for that and as the rash starts to fade it peels slightly. Have a look at google images and see if it looks anything like it. Hope she feels better soon.

threefeethighandrising · 31/12/2010 01:05

Go to the DR, it's what they're there for!
I wouldn't go for a cold / flu - but for a temp with an unknown rash, of course.

Why not phone NHS Direct tonight? 08454647. I've found them to be really useful on occasion.

Hope your LO feels better soon.

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 31/12/2010 13:21

Thanks both! Rash seems to be on the wane today. Not measles as it looks more like red all over than individual spots. three feet high.. love the name.

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threefeethighandrising · 31/12/2010 13:56

Phew, good to hear she's getting better. It's horrible when they're ill isn't it? DS had a cold with a fever for Christmas. He's usually a happy wee soul but he threw a tantrum because I unwrapped a present wrong! It would have been actually really quite funny if he hadn't been just so miserable with it. He's still got the cold but thankfully the grumps have gone now.

Here's a page online about diagnosing rashes. I love the website name - wrongdiagnosis.com HTH

Thanks for the name compliment I only just changed it recently from the name I signed up with a few years ago. I didn't choose it consciously, I actually dreamed about it! - how sad is that?! If that's not a sign I've been spending a little too much time heere I'm not sure what is!

In the same dream I also dreamed I was called motherofallhangovers - which I like too, although I do feel it would be false advertising - chance would be a fine thing these days!

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 01/01/2011 18:39

like that name too, but am a bit of a de la soul fan (just that album though). Thanks for that site, it's really helpful! DD now on the mend, though like your DS, very quick to tantrum and quite tired all the time.

Hope your little man is better now.

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threefeethighandrising · 02/01/2011 02:08

It's a great album isn't it . I'm looking forward to introducing it to DS when he's a bit older.

Original poster

120feetOfSnow · 02/01/2011 19:00

Have you hear the original 3 feet high recording, not by de la soul, I think. It's really good though.

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120 · 03/01/2011 21:10

Finally all clear with a 'normal' behaviour day today. She slept most of yesterday morning and when she got up, I noticed she was peeling everywhere the rash had been. Zinc oxide seems to be helping a bit, but am amazed at face, nose, eyelids, chest, back and entire groin peeling! Poor little thing. Thanks again all for your suggestions and support.

CommanderDrool · 03/01/2011 21:19

120

Just to say that if symptoms reappear please go to doc - if it was Scarlett fever, it can come back and be far more serious.

120 · 03/01/2011 21:25

Thanks CD. It was my fear as the symptoms seemed the closest, but she had no sore throat or funny pink tongue. Maybe I will go and see the doc anyway and get it on record. Thanks for your advice.

threefeethighandrising · 04/01/2011 00:58

Poor thing that can't be have been fun, for her or you. Good to hear she's better.

Thanks for the tip about the original 3 feet high recording, I didn't know that, I'll look it up

alypaly · 04/01/2011 01:21

might have been parvo virus(slapped cheek) how old is she?

120 · 04/01/2011 20:31

thanks 3. Hope you find it as it is quite rare (if you believe the DJ that played it to me!)

alypaly, she is 3.7. I'll look that up. She is definitely on the mend but still exhausts really easily, is taking day naps again, and going to bed nearly 2 hours earlier than normal.

Bobbiesmum · 05/01/2011 23:56

I am sure it is not this but have you considered Kawasaki disease? Did she have a red Tongue?

120 · 06/01/2011 18:23

Thanks BM. I had a look at the symptoms and there is quite a bit of overlap, right down to dry cracked lips. I had her looked at by the doctor. He said it could have been slapped cheek syndrome, like alypaly said, but the rash didn't look like that at all. He also said it may have been glandular fever.

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