6yo DS with mystery rash

[ragged]

Should I quarantine him, and if so, for how long? Do I dare take him to a doctor? Am usually pretty laid back, but would be nice to know what I'm dealing with.

Has had fever, especially overnight, during last 4 days. Just now he doesn't seem too hot but he's got lovely bright red cheeks and an intriguing new rash on his hands and forearms. Nowhere else.

I feel confident it's not impetigo, Chickenpox, Rubella, Measles, meningitis...

Should I see a doctor to find out if it's slapped cheek or scarlet fever? He's still pretty miserable with it, but he's the one of my DC who is always most miserable with any illness. DS3yo has had the same bug, but is all better now. The other 4 of us are fine, unaffected.

From what I've read if it is Fifths Disease then he's already past the contagious stage by the time the rash appears. But I'm not 100% sure on that, because the same sources imply that he should be past feeling the worst by the time the rash appears, too....? The rash doesn't look bad enough to be scarlet fever, and the history doesn't fit well for SF, either.

My DS (5 and a half yo) had something very similar a couple of weeks ago. 4 days of very high temp, lethargic, off his food, then as the temp started to subside he got a rash all over his tummy and chest. I took him to the docs and she said it was a post viral rash and should disappear in a couple of days, which it did. She did say to keep him away from other kids though, just in case. Hope your lo gets better soon.

Ta, I think it's more to do with him not moving around much and otherwise being a bit feverish.

Must get to bed before he wakes me up in the wee hours hot and bothered again!