Anyone help with this rash?

[boohoohoo]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on a rash that is appearing on my young son, he is three years old.

We noticed it when he was in the bath earlier. It is on one side of his lower trunk and spreads around to his back, it feels like sandpaper and is tiny tiny red spots (they are not bright iykwim). He's had a heavy cold for well over a week but is better this weekend and seems his normal self.

Any ideas? I've searched my brain but can't think what it could be! Thanks.

Could it be scarlet fever rash? We've just come through that I think, rash sounds the same?

Thanks for replying MrsM, Scarlett fever was one I was thinking of but I thought that started on the face for some reason, I've just tip toed in his room to check, they are tiny red spots and feel quite rough. Why do these things always start at night, so I can't keep thirty second checking .

Sandpaper is a classic description for a scarlett fever rash.

Doesn't always start on face, but I believe that it always follows a sore throat. The rash is usually worse in the hot folds of the skin (armpits, groin etc.).

My DD started this with a 40 degree temp and sore throat, followed by the gritty feeling rash on her shoulders and chest, bright red tongue and rosy cheeks. This is day 4 and deffo brighter today, temperature all but gone. Ah, the checking in the dark, been there! Thank goodness for the torch app! I was taking her temp every 15 mins, while trying not to wake her.

Thanks Haunted, I thought he was coming down with something last week, he had a streaming cold and an hacking cough, but the cold is much better niow, and even the cough seems better, he's just started nursery and is ready to go as soon as he gets up, so will be most put out if he's forced to stay home. Well I guess I'll know in the morning.

Your poor dd MrsM, hope she gets better soon!

My mum had Scarlett fever when she was a child, was very different then and very dangerous. She was left deaf in one ear and a damaged heart needing a replacement valve. Thank god those days are gone and we have modern medicine.

Rheumatic fever is still a complication of untreated scarlet fever (rare complication) so if you do suspect then worth getting checked out and press for ABs.

Strawberry tongue is not always present and GPs don't like to diagnose without strawberry tongue (and I think it is a notifiable disease).

If it goes around one side only, like a big stripe, shingles is a possibility - has he had chicken pox?

That sounds like shingles to me (obv I'm not qualified).

Hi thanks for all your replies, he's woken this morning full of beans, rash is still there, not got worse. It's very odd, have doc appt tomorrow morning so I guess it's a case of wait and see.

Moaning, no he hasn't had chicken pox yet, got that gem to come