Sore (but not itchy) rash with some blisters in two year old?

[fishcakefoxtrot]

DD had a spotty bottom over the weekend and despite sudocreme and lots of nappy off time the spots have multiplied. Some have little heads, a bit like teenage spots. She doesn't normally get nappy rash at all.

Then today she said her knees were sore and at bath time I noticed she has some little red spots on her knees and some red blisters on her ankles which are sore to the touch. She also has a couple on the soles of her feet. Nothing on her hands or round her mouth. Nothing seems to be itchy.

She is not very chatty so its hard to establish how she feels but I don't think her mouth is sore and although she has been a bit quiet today she was mostly fine, and was fine over the weekend?

Any ideas? I am meant to be going on the train to stay with my sister tomorrow and do not want to do this if she is contagious or if it sounds like the start of chicken pox.

Chicken pox, I would say... though all of my dd's chicken pox started as blisters - there was no other rash...

Sounds like Hand, foot and Mouth. It usually passes in a week or so. it is contagious so you will need to keep her away from playgroup/nursery/toddler groups. here

Sounds like chicken pox to me too - she will be covered tomorrow.

There's an outbreak of hand, mouth and foot going on round here (Essex way). My ds has it. Sore bum, blisters on hands and feet and some in the mouth too apparently - gp had a look. Ds has also developed a general rash across his body.

It's pretty contagious, as is chicken pox.

Thank you. Does anyone know what the incubation periods are? If she isn't covered in spots tomorrow can I assume that it is not chicken pox or hand, foot and mouth (and therefore get the train)? Or would that be a bit of a gamble?

I haven't got time in the morning to get to the GP and still get the train.

From your description it sounds exactly like HFM - blisters sore not itchy, on legs,bottom,feet. The liquid in the blisters is highly contagious so be sure to wash hands well if changing nappies. If she is well enough the current Dept of Health guidelines are not to keep her home from nursery as it is quite a mild illness but you should check with the individual place for their policy.

Incubation period is 3-5 days.

I would say not chickenpox. Chickenpox tends to start on the trunk and spread outwards (centripetal) as opposed to smallpox which starts on the limbs and spreads inwards (centrifugal). In the old days it used to be used to distinguish them at the beginning (so my old GP told me many years ago).