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Children's health

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Original poster

What could this be? - big spots like bites but around groin?

22 replies

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 25/04/2013 21:14

I noticed at bedtime that DS (5) suddenly has several big red spots, like large swollen mosquito bites, all around the top of his legs and his groin - 8 or 9 of them. There was also one on his ankle, though that was a bit less red and swollen so could possibly be something else, but none anywhere else. He didn't have them last night.

If they were somewhere else, I'd think they were mosquito bites that he'd reacted badly to - but that area has had clothes on the whole time, and none of his more exposed areas have the bumps (except the ankle one). There are 3 just around his perineum, so I don't see how it can have been a mosquito!

He seems well otherwise, and didn't seem too concerned about the spots - scratched a bit, but they didn't seem to be painful or massively itchy. I don't think he'd actually noticed them until I pointed them out.

Any ideas please?

OP posts:

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 25/04/2013 23:07

You don't mention having pets so it could be either an allergy or DS is fighting off a virus.

If there's no further spread by morning and he seems his normal self, I'd just say give it some time and keep his skin cool and dry, let him wear clean cotton clothes, wash his bedding on a very hot wash every few days, and rinse well. Use a clean towel after bathing or washing. Make sure his nails are kept clean and short. Use something like baby powder to help cool and maybe calamine lotion to help soothe?

Just thought, a change in detergent could cause a reaction so check out washing powder or shampoo or soap too.

I always think if in doubt, check with a doctor. It may be that his nursery or classmates have the same issue but nobody has mentioned it. If he shows any other signs tomorrow, if you or his dad are home tomorrow maybe keep him home to be on the safe side.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 25/04/2013 23:19

Nope, no pets so it shouldn't be flea bites. I wondered about detergent too but we haven't changed it lately. It almost did seem as though he could be allergic to his pants/something in them, from where the spots were, but they weren't new ones and we've not had problems with them before! Also it was more big, individual spots rather than a rash which I think is more typical with allergies?

He seems totally fine otherwise and he doesn't have PE tomorrow so no need to get undressed, so he should be fine for school as long as nothing changes. But you're right, I will take him to the doctor's if it doesn't improve very soon, or if it gets any worse.

OP posts:

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 25/04/2013 23:19

And thanks!

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MyCatIsAStupidBastard · 25/04/2013 23:29

Has he had chicken pox? If not I'd say it could be that.My DD started like that. They seemed to come up in damp a area's, if you see what i mean.

zipzap · 25/04/2013 23:33

It's not molluscum is it?

DS1 had this when he was about 3 or 4 - mostly around his arms and elbows but you can get it anywhere and up to 5 is an incredibly common time to get it..

The spots do sort of look like insect bites but need different treatment. And they take forever to go (think months rather than days) so it's worth figuring out if it is molluscum and if so, looking into it rather than ignoring it (as some people/doctors suggest) as it is incredibly contagious.

it's also weird because it was something I'd never heard of and thought it must be really rare but it's actually incredibly common and you'll suddenly start noticing it being mentioned all over the place!

fingers crossed it's not that though.

Could it be heat rash in this warm weather we've had otherwise?

5madthings · 25/04/2013 23:35

My ds4 also five has had this recently! At first i thought he may be getting chickenpox but no.more spots materialised and they didnt blister like pox spots do.

They werent itchy and didnt bother him at all and went away in a few days, most odd!

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 25/04/2013 23:43

He's had chicken pox (and DD's had it twice!) but the spots from that weren't quite as big and red as these, he also got it worst on his head! So I don't think it's that...

Molluscum... hmm it doesn't look that much like the pics when I googled it, but it's a possibility. I'll keep an eye on how the spots look and get it checked out if they stick around. I think the bumps are too big for heat rash! They really look a lot like if you get a big mosquito bite and react badly to it, only apparently not as badly itchy.

5madthings what your DS had sounds very similar, so here's hoping these ones will go away just as quickly! Wonder what it was!

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5madthings · 25/04/2013 23:52

No idea what it was, i sent a photo to my mum as she is a nurse!she had no idea. They were mainly o n his bum/groin area, one on his arm and a few at the bittom of his back, below the top of his trousers iyswim? They looked like bites but didnt bother him and just went away after a few days. Hope your little boys ones disappear asap too :)

zipzap · 26/04/2013 00:08

When ds had molluscum his spots looked a lot more like insect bites than the fairly extreme pictures shown on some of the sites...

have you also noticed that when we were little, we were likely to get things that were 'proper' bugs - so mumps, measles, a cough, a cold, chicken pox etc. Even things like glandular fever or meningitis which were a lot less common but were still known and definable.

However, these days, you're much more likely to be told 'it's a virus' or 'there are some nasty bugs going around that give people a headache and make them feel tired for a week or two'. or it will be something odd like Molluscum that you've never heard of but seems awfully common. And yet nobody really gets the things we had when we were young (give or take the measles outbreak in Wales at the moment).

brettgirl2 · 27/04/2013 11:05

I had this and it kept happening, always under clothes. We had rentokil out in desperation and they said it was the larvae from carpet beetles that caused it. Apparently only some people are sensitive which explained why it was only me. I was a bit but since we were 'exterminated' it hasn't happened since. Just a thought if it happens again.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 27/04/2013 21:37

Hm well today the ones he already had look much the same, except the one on his leg has "come up" a bit more so now it definitely looks like the others. Some of them have a bit in the middle that looks a bit like the middle of an insect bite, sort of teeny scabs. But he also has a cluster of new ones on his wrist. He still seems fine in himself though, and not particularly bothered by them.

I think if it's no better by then, I'll take him to the doctor's sometime in the week, it doesn't seem mega urgent though. Still hoping they might just disappear before then though!

I'm fairly sure it's not molluscum as the pictures and descriptions really don't seem to fit that well, it says dome-shaped and wart-like but his are more irregular shaped and not rounded and just look different. I hope it isn't carpet beetles though, they sound a pain! I might have a rootle through his pyjama and underwear drawers and the cupboard where his bedding's kept, just in case, though!

OP posts:

WouldBeHarrietVane · 27/04/2013 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 29/04/2013 12:49

Mm I don't think it's that either as a) they look different, b) he wasn't poorly at all before the spots came and c) he hasn't had a single one in the typical places. Although apparently some children in his class have just had that, so it wouldn't be completely impossible.

Since the ones on his wrist appeared, he hasn't had any more new ones though, and the first lot look like they are getting better now. Also they do seem now to have a sort of "puncture" bit in the middle (sort of red/orange tiny scabby bits), so I am leaning towards thinking they're some sort of bites. But will wait to see if any more come - I am hoping it's maybe something he got playing in the grass or suchlike rather than at home. Really don't want to find we have carpet beetles or bedbugs, but I have had a bit of a check around his bed, in the clothes/bedding cupboards etc. and not seen any sign of bugs so far, touch wood...!

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Solola · 03/05/2013 15:59

Funny as my DS has this right now so I did a search and found your post. I'm assuming that they are insect bites and a mozzie got into his pj trousers as he slept as we did have his window open. His are around groin also on thighs too and have come up in big red 10p size weals. Hope your DS feels better now? i've given mine some piriton and put some hydrocortizone cream on him.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 06/05/2013 23:00

Well the bites or whatever they are are nearly gone now (though the ones round his wrist did get big orangey tops on for a while!) and the good news is that there haven't been any more. So I am hoping that might be the end of it. It may end up being one of those mysteries that never gets solved, but as long as he is OK now I can live with that!

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ozymandiusking · 06/05/2013 23:11

Could they be human flea bites? I don't mean to be insulting.
Many years ago I once picked one up when we had been looking for a new suite in an old mill. Had the devil of a job getting rid of it. Finally the
Dr gave me a prescription for a liquid called (I think) Qwelloderm, which I had to paint on from neck to feet! This did work, I only used it once and wasn't bitten again.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 07/05/2013 00:29

Impetigo.

narmada · 09/05/2013 00:19

Scabies ??

bruffin · 09/05/2013 00:40

Shingles

Mim461546 · 07/03/2025 00:42

Hey, did you ever find out what this was?

bruffin · 07/03/2025 13:27

Mim461546 · 07/03/2025 00:42

Hey, did you ever find out what this was?

It was 12 years ago I doubt they remember!

Mim461546 · 07/03/2025 22:26

Probably not! Probably not even here! But thought it worth a shot

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