QUICK - can anyone help diagnose spots / rash in 18 mo old please?

[TheWheelsOnTheBusHaveFallenOff]

ds 18 mo old and just has a few, small pink spots in random places on his body. one of back of neck, on thigh, calf, tummy, back. Some came up yesterday and more today. The one on the back of his neck now looks more like an adolescent-type spot IYSWIM, it has become more angry looking and raised. He is a bit over sensitive and doesn't want breakfast but otherwise is not ill - no temperature or itching etc.

Would normally just wait and see what happens, but have friend and 4.5 month old baby coming to visit for the weekend so need to get an idea of what this is as I don't want to expose the baby to anything. ds has had all his vaccinations.

when I say he's over sensitive I mean more whingey than normal, not sensitive to light or anything like that.

mild case of chicken pox?

Does sound like the start of chicken pox. Do the spots look like they're sort of pus - a bit like blisters that might burst? If it is chicken pox, he'll probably develop more spots over the next couple of days, or he might not. Some cases of chicken pox can be very mild, with very few spots - and he may not seem that ill, just more whingey as you say.

When mine had chicken pox, you could use piriton to ease any itching, but I'm not sure you're allowed to give it to under 2's any more - best check with your chemist. Aqueos (sp?) calamine cream is the best stuff to put on the spots as it doesn't dry out too much. A tsp of bicarb in a luke-warm bath helps with the itching too.

I would tell your friend, but if it were me, I would probably postpone the visit as I wouldn't really want to expose a 4.5 month old baby to chicken pox.

ah - he has been exposed to chicken pox recently. I had it as an adult so have been assuming that it would be quite virulent but see from looking on the internet that symptoms can be very mild. spots haven't erupted into blisters other than the one on the back of his neck which doesn't look blister-y just inflamed. he has refused all food at breakfast and in some ways I am hoping he is ill otherwise he is being very whingey for no reason.

really don't want to put my friend off but think you are right that we will have to, just in case.

thanks

My ds 2 has been exposed to chicken pox through his sister (who is in the final stages of it). The GPs told us he is almost certainly infected so I was waiting for the spots to appear.

All ds has one spot on each of his forearms. One that looks like an adolescent rash you describe but over the course of the day has developed a white, dry pin prick top. The other one started out as a red pinprick and is also drying up. Ds has been snotty and had 2 loose poos yesterday otherwise happy as larry playing with his sister.

I cannot believe chicken pox can be so mild. Maybe more spots will sprout. I want him to have a good bout to get it over and done with ...