Non blanching rash

[whoops2024]

Hi,

My 5 month old has been fine in herself a very happy baby but yesterday afternoon I found a rash on her leg that would not disappear when I put a glass over it. Without any doubt I went straight to a&e and we were refereed to the CAU.

Nurses did obs every hour and they were normal.

Drs&consultants ruled out meningitis because other than the rash she's a happy baby.

We had bloods done and sent home. Pictures of her leg have also been sent to dermatology so have to wait for a call from them.

They said they would call if bloods were abnormal and so far no call 🙏

Just wondering if anyone else's child has ever had non blanching rashes that turned out all ok

I'm still a nervous wreck- all I keep thinking is what if it is the worst but she just isn't showing the other symptoms?

I tend to catastrophise (if that's even a word) everything so excuse me 🤦🏻‍♀️

Not sure why picture didn't attach seeing if it works this time ....

You could ask a pharmacist - they are often good at rashes!

You have done absolutely the right thing & already had them checked out. Did A&E tell you any red flags to watch out for/reasons that would mean you should bring your LO back in?

@OtterMummy2024 hiya thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

That's a good shout going to the pharmacy.

Yes they told me to keep an eye out for- fever, vomiting, drowsiness, not drinking her milk, no wet nappies stuff like that and of course a change in the rash getting bigger or appearing somewhere else.

Her skin is so smooth I can't feel a thing just the marks are under the surface of the skin, just praying it's not blood.

😩

I personally have had non-blanching rashes multiple times - in fact I get one on my face every time I throw up because I burst the blood vessels around my eyes. It used to be scary for my parents when I was a teenager.

You know what to look out for & you've been seen and had bloods done already. It's scary when you think they might be sick. Be gentle with yourself.

@OtterMummy2024 thanks for the reassurance and gosh bless you having had it multiple times!

She did go in her carrier yesterday facing forward (which she hardly goes into) I wonder if that affected her leg some how?? I don't know

But yes she's had all the appropriate tests so nothing more we can do but try and reassure that she's okay.

Thank you

Ah, welcome to the world is of a rash-prone child! My dd (now 9) gets a rash with the mildest of bugs and every time there’s a non-blanching one she’s carted off to a medical professional who agrees it’s always right to get it checked but she’s fine. I too have been told that it needs to be looked at as part of a bigger picture of how the child is. Still needs checking though, particularly with babies who can turn so fast.

now my dd is older, there are other milder symptoms that make me wonder if there’s something else ‘immuney’ going on and she’s waiting to see a paediatrician to see if things can be put together or whether it’s just part of how she is, but you’ve done exactly the right thing and you’re absolutely right to be keeping a close eye on her too.

I think the suggestion of consulting a pharmacist is excellent. I haven’t had a bad experience with one yet, in fact my uncles pulmonary embolism was spotted by one.

@Cornettoninja hello! Thanks for responding too.

Oh no way! That myst have been scary when it kept happening. I hope you get to the bottom of it and they can find out why it keeps happening. Is it always in the same place?

I was going to go to the pharmacy today, but last night the hospital called and have asked us to go back in today to see other specialists, so I'm pleased they're taking it seriously and consulting other professionals.

Wow that's frightening about the pulmonary embolism and amazing that the pharmacist identified that! I do hope your uncle is well now.

Just an update-

Waited all morning for the team to call to give us a time to go in to the CAU for a second opinion but no one called.

I rang to ask what was going on and was told "sorry we don't have an appointment for your daughter" told me to try dermatology department. So I called them and they got back to me and said "sorry no drs are available today so we will arrange an appointment for you to come in the next 2-3weeks"

I got so cross and said not only am I worried about my daughter, but also the fact your colleague called me late evening on Thursday and said I would get a morning appt Friday to then be told this is not the case! I cancelled my personal commitments and had to rearrange childcare for this! So he said, "so sorry I will see if we can get you in today and I'll call you back shortly" I never got a call back!

I have now complained to PALs about this but as it's the weekend I doubt I'll hear anything until next week.

Also, ANYONE PUT THEIR CHILD IN A BABY CARRIER AND THEN FOUND NON BLANCHING RASH ON THEIR LEGS AFTER USE?

I'm starting to wonder if it's the carrier? I've found two more spots on her other leg now 😣

Vast majority of non blanching rashes are non worrying, we just play safe because of the tiny number that are meningococcal septicaemia. I’ve seen non blanching rashes caused by car seat straps, bouncers, baby carriers, bath seats, and in older kids laser quest armour rubbing, and sliding down the side of a paddling pool. If they’ve done bloods, that rules out the most worrying causes. Hope that helps.

Ds used to get non-blanching rashes lots as a child. He was in a carrier the first time he got one, but not other times, if I remember rightly.
He got ones that looked like your dc; tiny red ones, huge (2p piece size) red ones, ones that looked like bruises, ones that spread so quickly you could watch them coming out, ones that just covered his torso, ones on his legs...
A&E knew us well. In, blood test, wait for result, go home with "viral rash".

His bloods normally showed an infection, but not a worrying one - apparently it was the "right side of abnormal". They were never concerned about meningitis really because he was always pretty alert and cheerful. I was told that the rash for meningitis is a later symptom; by the time they get it, they are clearly very ill. So never wait for the rash if you're worried.

He did get them frequently, with some more entertaining that others. I seem to remember one GP saying that it could be something to do with cold, but that was never talked through.

I think it could be the carrier possibly. Forwards facing if the adult is wearing the carrier on their front can tilt the child forward out of a normal sitting position. This might possibly have restricted blood flow into her leg. I say this because the one time my DD has had a non blanching rash it was when the tourniquet had been put on too tight during a blood test.

Hi all thanks so much for your responses!

I ended up talking to a dr who told me to go back to a&e as the rash spread over to the other leg. Just to be safe. So I went and ended up back in CAU. Again no concern for anything serious and the consultant apologised about dermatology and have sent them more photos and request we be seen urgently next week. Hoping they don't mess me about again.

Similarly, her bloods came back slightly abnormal but not enough for concern. Maybe she will be susceptible to these types of rashes in her life I don't know! But hopefully dermatologist can give us a better insight.

Regarding the carrier, yeh I did front face her and it did seem right around her chubby little legs bless her. I think I'm going to refrain from using it and see if it disappears soon 🙏🙏

Thanks everyone for reassurance and sharing your experiences

Update - rash has fully disappeared and baby girl is totally fine still thankfully! Finally for a dermatologist appt after complaining. Was in there for 10 mins and asked - do you have pets? No. Does anyone have a skin problem in the family? No.

Oh okay. Maybe it was a reaction to a bug bite then. Which I'm 90% it wasn't a bite as she had no bites anywhere!

🤦🏻‍♀️

But just want to thank everyone for the reassurance! Let's hope it never happens again.

I'm still certain it was restriction from carrier!

My DS had this after being in the carrier ! Took me forever to figure out why he kept getting these marks, I could never tell if they were more bruise or rash ! Very worrying. I stopped using the carrier and it never came back ! I'm assuming it's like a weird form of a petechial rash due to the weight and pressure of being sat that way.