Maybe Bug bites? Really sore, picture attached

[Afolnerd]

Ds6 complained about a week ago that his side was itchy. I found a little group of what looked like mosquito bites so put some hydrocortisone on them and didn’t think any more about it.

Ds just knocked his side playing and starting crying that it really hurt.
It now looks really nasty. He says it only hurts if I touch it. He seems fine in himself.
He also has another little group of spots on his back like the original ones. Patch is about the size of a 10p

Any ideas what it could be?

That does look strange. No expert but could it be monkeypox, which is likely circulating much more widely than the recorded cases suggest? Has he had any other symptoms a few days previously:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/

Of course if it is that, no need to panic as most cases are mild. But would need quarantining.

Is it possible that that is impetigo? I can't see the picture clearly as I am outside in the garden and the sun is bright on the screen.

I would call 111 and get an out of hours appointment.

Doesn't impetigo tend to be on the face and go in a line though?

Looks like it's scabbing over and healing now. Just keep an eye on it.

Hmm, may be impetigo?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/impetigo/

DB had impetigo on his trunk just below his armpit when he was young so it could be that, I would probably see a GP if it doesn't improve by Monday when they are open again in case you need some cream for it

DS had similar rash - the pharmacist took a look and said it was shingles. Also confirmed by the GP .

I think you need to get dr or pharmacist to have a look at it.

Maybe cover it with a non lint dressing in case it is impetigo.

The fact it's on his trunk suggests shingles.

I did wonder this but he is only 6 and I think you have to have had chickenpox to get it, has he had chickenpox OP?

I had a small patch of shingles after my Moderna Vax which was a bit spotty and itchy like that, then it went blistery and fortunately cleared up after about 2 or 3 weeks

Thanks for all your suggestions

to answer questions. He hasn’t been ill and is his normal live wire self. It only hurts him if it gets touched. I don’t think it is impetigo as he has had that before and it doesn’t look the same. He had chicken pox at 2, actually he had chicken pox and hand foot and mouth at the same time which was horrific. Doesn’t shingles make you feel ill though?
I need to pop into town tomorrow so I think I will take him with me for the pharmacist to have a look.

You're not supposed to use hydrocortisone cream on broken skin.

You are also not supposed to use it on children under 10.

I would say shingles too
My ds had CP at 6 months and shingles age 3.

It was misdiagnosed as first as eczema and I was give cream to put on (painful for ds!) It was the 2nd GP visit that suggested shingles and that made more sense.

It’s prescribed for him for eczema and the skin wasn’t broken when I used it.
but it’s the first I have heard of the broken skin thing? Dd had eczema which was so bad was bleeding and the Dr prescribed it knowing it was going on broken skin.

Two separate patches means it's unlikely to be shingles. The rash follows a single nerve.

I was going to suggest Impetigo, but I didn’t realise that such young children could get Shingles, I thought it was a condition that affected middle aged and older people. Shingles hurts a lot though, I would have expected him to feel more unwell.
Can you get to see a GP on Monday ?

Are the groups on the same side of the body? I’d say shingles too.

Think adults get more of the nerve pain than children do.

Childhood Shingles is especially more common in children that get CP under 1 year (my dd had CP at 6 months and shingles age 3)

If the 2nd lot of spots is just along from the 1st set on the same side then I really think it is shingles.

Not much could be done now except give pain relief and use treatments designed for relieving CP

The bad patch is on his side. The little patch is about 10 cm away a bit lower down on his back.

Shingles - it follows the nerve pathway perfectly.

Looks the same as when I had shingles, and it's not always painful, I didn't feel a thing, the doctor confirmed shingles with a swab test