Shingles? (Pic included)

[Janleverton]

So ds (13 yrs) has developed over the last couple of days a rash on his back, sort of just below the ribs. Started just itchy, then a small patch, but now bigger.

Has made me wonder whether poss shingles. And if son, it being the weekend, whether he would need to see a gp over the weekend or whether, if not any improvement, to go on Monday. He feels well in himself I think. No symptoms. Has had eczema in the past and generally has quite sensitive skin, so...

I’d say yes. Looks very much like shingles.

Unless it gets worse, or he gets poorly with it, no need to see doctor, although you could ask chemist for second opinion.

Looks like it. Anti virals may help, but if he is feeling pretty well they may not be essential. Kids can shrug these things off much better than adults. 111 May be able to give more advice.

If so, advise calling Out Of Hours doc and getting anti viral meds...

Also, I think you will need to notify the school...

Looks like shingles to me. If he’s feeling ok, there’s no need to see a GP immediately but you could ask a pharmacist for advice.

Anti-virals are most effective if started within 48-72 hours of the rash appearing so I would suggest OOH.

Looks like shingles - ds was like that for a few days, then the spots blistered, like chicken pox.

I did take him to the GP, because he was only 7 years old, but advice was an antihistamine for the itching, and a gel (can't remember the name).

You need to tell school. We just made sure he kept his top on, and the pregnant TA had to keep her distance.

My daughter had shingles last year, the anti virals really helped to stop it developing further.

Shingles normally means he will be v run down from something else. I have had shingles twice. Once age 9 when my body was battling undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. And second time, immense stress on doing teacher training and buying first house (blood sugars were crazy).

I'd take him for that reason rather than the shingles iyswim. I wasn't ill with the shingles. I had it in same place. It has a distinctive prickly feel.

So you don't worry-i had it at least a couple of weeks before I went to GP when I was a kid. My mum (a bloody nurse) thought it was an allergic reaction

Hope he is ok x

Just to add, he needs to be off school if it is as anyone who hasn't had chicken pox can catch it off him

Yes, the school will need to be told, they may have apolicy where he needs to stay home until the blisters crust over.

I was told you should see doctor, to prevent long term complications. I didn't, and DS was ok, but doctor said I should have.

I didn't have to keep ds off school, just keep the spots covered. No swimming, no changing for PE.

I've had shingles on my face of all places! I was extremely ill. Dr initially diagnosed an ear infection (I didn't have earache!). The next day I went back as my eye would not open. I'd developed a complication called Ramsey Hunt syndrome which meant that if i can not started anti viral within 72 hours of the rash appearing I could have suffered permanent facial paralysis. I was on hour 69 by the time the third Dr finally prescribed me. I would go to OOH just to be on the safe side.

Assuming he's previously had chicken pox? yes could be shingles.
might be too late to start anti virals but if not, def try as can hugely reduce likelihood of later complications

I was advised by a pharmacist to see a doctor straight away - so OOH

You need to take him

Oh poor sausage hope he is ok with it

DS had shingles and that looks exactly like it. He didn't really have any other symptoms but he was very young (6/7). Go to Dr for confirmation of course! I don't think it's especially dangerous unless it's on the face / near the eyes but that's a generalisation. DD got chicken pox from it but that's because they were sharing a bath and initially I thought it was a rugby scrape before it looked blistered! Oops.

Thanks so much for the advice all. I got a callback from 111 and they spoke with ds and have said unless it worsens tomorrow, it doesn’t need to be seen until Monday if needed. I was a bit 🤔 about the antiviral medicine, until ds said that actually, he felt a spot/bump on Monday/Tuesday (to nurse at 111) and so I guess we are past the stage where anti virals will be indicated. He didn’t think to mention it and he’s been feeling well so...

Thankfully he is off for half term for 2 weeks. I think if still like it is I will take him to the gp - I know that only the spots are contagious for chicken pox, but while we’ve all had it, i would want to be able to warn anyone we might see so they don’t take any risk of exposure.

I mean, mention it to me (about how long ago the rash started). His skin can be a bit reactive and so I probably wasn’t really paying enough attention. Sigh.

Thanks again for responding.

I was the same, Jan. DS seemed ok, just a very weird rash. Showed it to the pharmacist, but as he was well I didn't take him to GP.

It was only later, GP said he should have been seen.

I am going to take him to gp tomorrow - saw pharmacist who was pretty sure is shingles but he’s supposed to be having a flu vaccine on Friday as has asthma and I don’t think that sounds like a good idea if he has shingles. Probably overthinking it though! It looks much more distinctly blistered on one side. He’s otherwise in fine fettle...

Bought vitamins and anti itch stuff. Far too late for antivirals I think.

Just by way of an update for future ref if others have similar rash - yes is shingles. He’s absolutely well otherwise. No antivirals as too late and also as a teen with rash on back rather than face and no other symptoms, not recommended anyway.