Slap cheek or scarlet fever

[WingingItWith3InTow]

Hi,

ds is 9, I picked him up from school today and his teach said he’d started to complain of feeling really unwell and he looks very red and hot. I took one look and said he’s covered in a rash! He’s been feeling poorly for a couple of days but not enough I’d keep him off. I told he’s teachers each morning to watch out for him as you do and asked them to phone if he got worse.

I’ve spoken to the gp over the phone and they said it sounds like scarlet fever but they couldn’t see my ds today. If I’m worried to go to a&e. He’s poorly but I’m not scared if that makes sense. He’s playing on the iPad but complaining his head hurts and that the rash is burning and itching. the surgery said if I want to get him looked at to try calling at 8.15 tomorrow morning.

he’s got a rash on his face and all over. He has lumps in the side of his neck which I’ve not seen in any of my 3 before but he says they don’t hurt. The gp didn’t seem particularly bothered and said they only do something for scarlet fever if they get complications with it. My girls have had slap cheek and I don’t remember them getting a rash as bad as his over their body. Obviously I’m hoping for slap cheek as it’s mild. I’ve looked on line and the symptoms and rash look so similar. Anyone have any idea how I’d know the difference?

Hi lovely,

Bless his heart. Poor thing.

Please try and get an appointment tomorrow or go to A&E if you are really concerned in the mean time.

All scarlet fever cases should be treated with antibiotics. The reason some of these poor children got so unwell is because they weren't given antibiotics initially. Please push for them.

I'd never recommend trying to get antibiotics unless absolutely necessary but scarlet fever does need antibiotics as it is amongst the Strep A illnesses.

Not to worry you at all. Just remember to always trust your instinct.

The NHS website also states Scarlet Fever requires antibiotics and that's actually the reason it's not as serious as it once was!

Sending love xxx

Looks like scarlet fever to me. My kids had it over Christmas. Also slapped cheek isn't itchy.

Send the photos to Gp tomorrow. Mine saw my daughter within two hours and prescribed antibiotics. She felt worse the day before the rash came out. My husband got it much worse.

Trying to attach a pic of my child a few yrs back with scarlet fever. Was initially misdiagnosed as slapped cheek but when I went to our usual doc she couldn’t believe that it happened as he had scarlet fever tongue (maybe google that?)

hope your little one is okay x

Thank you x

ill try get an appointment tomorrow and hope I see another gp. X

Ask for a throat swab and antibiotics just incase. Check his tonsils, are they red and covered in pus and does his tongue look white or red and sore? Does he have a fever? In the current climate GP should see and treat right away

Another one for scarlet fever precautions here. That looks like a strep A rash to me (my lo has had it twice now). Do you have a pic of his tongue? it’s pretty definite when it’s scarlet fever.
Poor boy, he likely has a temp which will be causing the headache. I’d suggest straight on phone to GP in morning. My one had it very recently and guidelines are still the prescribe antibiotics so I’d not sit comfortably with the Gp you spoke to saying they’d only do something if he got worse 😞and I am sending you good vibes for some sleep tonight for you both x

Ps scarlet fever rash is horribly itchy. give him calpol and nurofen to try and keep him comfortable till morning 💐

He’s not complaining of a sore throat. He’s got the weird bumps on the outside of his neck. He has a fever but only 38ish

I’ll push for an appointment to be safe. You just feel you’re making a fuss when the gp doesn’t seem bothered. But I will push to get him seen

He’s asleep so I can’t see his tongue. But I’ll look as soon as he wakes x

they Bumps are likely his glands that are up. Good he’s not too hot and not too sore a throat, sounds like he’s tolerating it well but definitely not bothering Gp when he’s ticking so many boxes for strep A. Good luck getting him seen.

up date

I pushed to see another doctor even though the receptionist got really rude. She booked him in with the head of the practice (I think she was trying to make a point) and he apologise and said I had been advised wrong and my ds needs 10 days of antibiotics

Well done for pushing past rude receptionist! Glad to hear he’s got antibiotics 👍hope he feels much better soon