Rash getting worse...allergy? Eczema? Virus? Photo to help!

[linspins]

My dd has had a rash now for almost weeks. It started as a few red spots around her neck and shoulders, like stinging nettle. I thought possibly allergic reaction, so did pharmacist, so I gave her loratidine antihistimine for a week. It got worse, spreading down her arms, chest, back and getting worse on shoulders. It intensely itchy, and feels rough. We have seen the GP who gave her a different antihistamine. That was two days ago and now it's redder and itchier than ever, and spreading. The rash is weeping in the worse places, and very painful now. My dd (10) is trying not to scratch but it's so hard.
We are not a family prone to allergies, eczema etc, and I've never seen a rash like this. Any ideas? Should I take her back to the GP? I'm worried it's infected now.

It does look like eczema - I suffered as a child and had a massive flare up during my second pregnancy that looked very much like the pictures you've posted. Cetraben cream may help, or a short course of a steroid cream (would have to be prescribed to be any good really and only for short term use). An antihistamine may help with the itching, and don't got over the top with washing - whilst water will soothe it in some ways, it does dry the skin out more - the dermatologist I saw said not to shower daily as it would irritate it more. Ultimately UV therapy sorted it for me - if the sun comes out at all over the next few days, apply plenty of sensitive skin sun cream and let the sunshine help it a bit!

Hope she feels better soon - eczema flares like that can be utterly miserable :(

Oh and a range of cream by Simple is good too - it's called Simple Derma, larger pharmacists will have it or you can order online, worked wonders for me!

I agree with the PP who said not to rule out urticaria until you've tried a few different antihistamines. I get horrible hives from some things, and once I'm triggered it can just get worse and worse including patches that look like your third pic if I scratch - mine is always very itchy and heat makes it worse.

Chlorphenamine (piriton) is completely useless for me, cetirizine is ok for me and fexofenadine hydrochloride is the best. So perhaps talk to the GP about trying a different one and see if it helps? In the meantime the management regime for eczema works quite well on my irritated hives as well so I think it's a good idea to stop using soap etc per previous posts.

Thank you all for your messages, lots of good advice should it turn out to be eczema, and lots of advice to try anyway, whatever it is! Ive called 111 and they agree that she ought to see someone today, so are going to ring me in the next 12 hrs!
The thing that puzzles me about eczema is...can it suddenly start, aged 10, having never had anything like it before? And would this mean that she'll have it on and off always?

Yes it can appear at a later stage and may well disappear again. I had it badly as a child, 'grew out of it' and didn't have any for years, then it came back when I was pregnant with DS2 - since then I get occasional, minor flares either around my period or if I am stressed.

So, been to see the out of hours doc. He agreed that it now looked very eczema like, and whether it's from an allergy, or from a virus, we will never know. But he's prescribed piriton, four to six times a day, a cream which is a steroid and antibiotic combined, and a vat of zeroderm moisturizer. So, I'm hoping that if we hit it with that lot, it will heal. Fingers crossed.

That covers pretty much every base! good result!

Sounds good - hope it clears up quickly. X

That looks exactly like my eczema even the crusty bits. It will heal and there'll be no scars or sign of it. Mine spread quickly like that too and I used steroid creams and a dermal prescription to manage it

I'd have said eczema but maybe suncream allergy?

Sounds like something in that cocktail should fix it!

Shingles?

Update: have used the special cream and piriton for just under two days now, and it's already significantly better. The rash is still there, but not getting worse, and the eczema bits have stopped blistering and weeping and are healing. Less itchy too, phew.
I'm so glad I pushed for the out of hours doc to see her. I spoke to two people on 111 who both agreed/recommended she be seen, but the third person tried to convince me it's wasn't urgent and that we should wait until Tuesday to see GP. This would have been quite awful for dd.
I'm hoping that this will turn out to be an unusual one-off, and not the start of regular flare ups. 🤞
I have a new sympathy for anyone with eczema.

Oh that's excellent news!

Really good news. Thanks for the update.

hi new to this wont let me post a thread has anyone ever went into to check on there child and the arm looks blue like the circulation has stopped when I woke her up in a panick the blood rushed back it seems she had been lying on it I am scared to go to sleep incase it happens again sorryto comment hear concerned crazy mother