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Children's health

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Original poster

Has your child had shingles?

20 replies

Youcanringmybell · 10/03/2013 11:00

My son 4yrs old, has a circular area a little bigger than a 50p piece on his back. It is raised red spots, some scabbing some with white heads.

He says it is sore to touch. He is otherwise unbothered, though he woke with his eye stinging in the night (unrelated perhaps)

He seems well in himself. I cannot find anything online that looks remotely like it - except the beginnings of a shingles rash.
Not sure what to do - if anything. I suppose wait until tomorrow and ring the doctor for a check up perhaps?

Just wondering what els eit could be? I am not sure allergic reactions look like this.

OP posts:

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 10/03/2013 11:01

Forgot to add - he has had chicken pox. This rash is not blistered yet.

OP posts:

beautifulgirls · 10/03/2013 16:52

Yes, DD2 had it just over a year ago (aged 5) and then her younger sister caught chickenpox from it. She was sore on the area but otherwise well. We saw the GP out of hours when I realised what it was as antivirals are most effective given asap. She was totally fine - the area did stay a bit red and marked for a while after healing but it faded and settled a few months on.

LIZS · 10/03/2013 16:54

ds had it aged 11 but it was in band around his back which is more typical than a patch

ClaimedByMe · 10/03/2013 16:54

If you think it is shingles get him seen ASAP as he needs anti virals and the longer you leave it to get them the less likely they are to work, why do these things always happen on the weekend!

LIZS · 10/03/2013 17:03

He doesn't need antivirals unless there are other risk factors but certainly they are only effective within a short time of onset.

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 10/03/2013 18:10

well it seems to be drying up so I am not convinced now. He is otherwise well for now.
I suppose he could have had a very mild case of it.

Interesting to hear you experiences. Thank you very much. If I need tot ake him tomorrow I will post

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narmada · 10/03/2013 18:34

My DD has this too at the mo, only thing I can find that looks similar is shingles.... younger DS has not had the pox yet so will be interested to see whether he gets it in 2 weeks' time

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 12/03/2013 07:02

I took ds to the docs. He does have xzema all over his hand at the moment and so said to treat it for exzema as well. I have some cream but honestly...it is not like any exzema I have ever seen. The blisters have popped and scabbed now. So atleast it is over with. It is quite itchy and sore for him.

Mysterious skin rashes get on my nerves...
Narmada - interesting...must 'something' - blisters are not like a typical viral rash.

OP posts:

mushroom3 · 12/03/2013 10:59

Yes, aged 6, affected one leg. This was following very mild chicken pox as a baby.

narmada · 12/03/2013 12:34

In DDs case it is shingles altho the other GP had to come in and have a look to confirm...

Why wld a 4 yr old get shingles?!?

ilovepowerhoop · 12/03/2013 12:37

ds had shingles age 3 after getting chicken pox at 5½ months. It is more common for children to shingles if they have chicken pox under the age of 1. DS's was around his side under his arm. He still has scars from it (age 6).

ilovepowerhoop · 12/03/2013 12:38

p.s. you can get chicken pox from shingles but only with direct contact with fluid from the blisters.

Goodwordguide · 12/03/2013 12:41

DS had it aged 3 (and had had v mild chicken pox aged 4 months). It was in a band around his back, a pinprick rash that turned very scabby with greenish/white blisters. Lasted for ages but didn't seem to bother him too much.

The GP had never seen shingles ina child his age before and got a second opinion. We didn't bother with the anti-virals as he'd had it for a few days before the doctor saw him (I thought it was eczma at first) but I know what it looks like now if it comes back.

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 13/03/2013 08:12

Thanks for all the replies..very interesting. I ope your little ones didn't get too poorly with it!

we are going back to docs today as it isn't responding to creams. It actually now looks like discoid eczema so thinking perhaps not shingles now.
Rashes are baffling!

OP posts:

narmada · 13/03/2013 11:46

Hope you get the answers you want. I have just looked up pics of discoid eczema and some of them are similar to DD's shingles rash.

I think the location will be the giveaway - if it's kind of in a band, or in patches to one side of the spine, then shingles has to be a possibility.

Alternatively, could it be ringworm?

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 13/03/2013 12:08

hello again - thanks marmada - it is on the left of his back, under the shoulder blade.

They do not suspect shingles as he is so well apparently. So are now treating with daktacort cream which is 1% steroid and and anti-fungal as it looks a bit yucky.

But they stress it will be atleast 10 days before much improvement can be seen.

So time will tell. narmada - how is you dd? is she well or miserable? My son is intensely itchy but it is painful/ sore to touch. I have just started him on piriton.

OP posts:

narmada · 13/03/2013 12:14

My DD is completely and utterly well with it - bouncing around, full of vim and vigour. GP said it presents completely differently in children to in adults. The position you describe sounds right for shingles. The sore bit on my DD's skin is intensely itchy but also painful/ sore to touch and she won't let me near it. So again, similar to your DS. Did he have chickenpox before the age of 1?

It really does sound like shingles to me. You mentioned his eye stinging. Is it OK now? Because there is something called opthalmic shingles that you need to keep an eye out for (no pun intended) and if it looks at all red, then I would straight back to the GP.

narmada · 13/03/2013 12:15

She had one or two days where she was a bit out of sorts, about a week before the rash emerged - she was a bit tired, weepy and clingier than normal. That was it as far as symptoms went and certainly by the time the rash came out she was fine in herself.

Original poster

Youcanringmybell · 13/03/2013 12:19

yes it sounds so very similar. I am hoping the cream doesn't do any damage. It says on it not for use for shingles.

His eye seems ok - not mentioned it since. He has had a mild cold but nothing to bother him. They simply didn't think it was shingles - but doctors differ so much in their opinions don't they.

They said come back in 10 days if no improvement or worsening. The cream is stinging at the moment and intensely itchy again. Nightmare. i have to get a taxi to docs every time which is £10 each way. already spent £40 this week. will have to watch and wait.

Let me know how you DD gets on

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narmada · 13/03/2013 12:34

Blimey, that's an expensive trip to the doctors - I can see why you don't want to keep going back and forth.

YY to doctors having different opinions. I've got a really good one who I trust but have had some stinkers in the past.

Hope your DS is better soon. DD will be going back to school Friday all being well (or at least I hope so as she is so excited about it being mufti day/ red nose day

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