Spotty baby -what could this be?

[phdlife]

DS 18m has had a low grade fever since 3am and we have just found a load of spots (doesn't really look like a rash, and the glass test suggests it isn't meningitis) in the area covered by his nappy. The spots are a good few mms across and have a white ring around them like a weal/flare. he's not otherwise showing any signs of illness - just a bit quiet, not crabby or anything like that.

Any ideas, thanks?

In my uneducated experience children can have rashes as a by product of the illness/virus - best to check with a professional tho'.

It actually sounds like a post viral rash to me. They often have a characterstic white halo around them. Not sure why they would only be in his nappy area though - maybe they will spread

hope he improves soon.

Sounds like could be chicken pox - do the middle bits of the spots look blistery? Suspect you will find rash is spreading too if it is.

If is chicken pox, Eurax lotion is easier to apply than camomile lotion and doesn't leave them looking white and crusty. Also if hard to get on or he's very itchy ask pharmsist about infant anti-histamine which is taken orally.

Thanks for the ideas. Spots are not blistery so don't think it's CP .

We'll check again at (our) bedtime to see if it's spread. There might be more around his feet, but we're not sure yet.

BBM, d'you think if it was post-viral, he'd still have the fever?

My Dr said taht as long as kids respond to calpol within half an hour it is unlikely to be serious.

phd - tbh I'm just repeating what my doc has said to me.

Thinking back, I seem to recall him saying a rash with a white halo is a sign of a viral infection and that it could occur during or post illness.

I'm sure DD2 had a similar rash on her nappy area, lower arms and feet - that was definitely post viral as I remember sending her into nursery with it (it had been there for days but she was fine). She didn't get it anywhere else.

You know if you're worried you are best off phoning NHS direct. Doesn't sound like you're too concerned though

No am not too worried - wasn't too thrilled when his temp kept going up after calpol but it really isn't that high and as I said he doesn't seem too bothered.

just a little niggle worry, so far.

thanks all

How is he now? Did it spread?

hi bbm

the fever seems to have gone after a 3am dose of panadol, and the rash hadn't spread overnight although what was under the nappy had def got worse.

But when he was in the bath tonight we noticed a couple of spots on his tum, down his legs and on his arms, not yet as angry looking as the ones under his nappy.

Dh wants me to take him to the doc, I dunno if I can see the point. Ds was v clingy this morning and whingy until after lunch, once we took him out though he was happy as larry. (Well he had been whinging about going in the car... )

Perhaps I should be more worried?

Oh I reckon you'd know if it was something serious.

I'd be taking him to the docs if I was you... but only to find out what it could be - I doubt they would be able to do anything about it.

like this?

ha, BBM, suspect I went to same mothering school as you

ohIdolike: ew - no!

that whitish ring around them quality has disappeared, btw. now they just look like ... small bites?

Sorry - was that a bit gorey.

FWIW - My 18 month old is permanently a blotchy mess and I marvel at the different rashes she comes up with every day. Hope lo gets better soon.

do you worry about them? (the rashes, I mean) - or is there a reason for the frequency?

suspect my #1 reason for not taking him to doc's is the stupid scrum they put you through. If you want an appt in advance you sometimes wait a week or more. If you book on the day you have to ring at 8:30, the phone is continuously busy and by 8:45 they've all gone. And if, after all that, they're just going to say, hmm, could be a virus - well I'd just as soon stay in my pj's [lazy mama]

Have you ruled out impetigo? It's quite usual for it to start in the nappy area - my daughter (16 ms) has got it at the moment. It started with sore patches on her tummy where her nappy is fastened and then some small spots on her tummy and now top of her legs/bottom which quickly became like large bites - doc has given her antibiotic cream and antibiotics to take too

have had him to doc's tonight, after a miserable night where he kept waking in clear but baffling distress.

only when he yawned on my lap did I spot red tonsils and a lesion at the back of his throat.

rash still spreading but doc says "viral".

Amateur doctor award goes to BBM

• poor little sausage.

I haven't prepared a speech for my award but I'd just like to start by thanking my children for giving me the reason to visit the doctors at least twice a week.......