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Children's health

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Original poster

Ds has a scab on his head and I am not sure what it is

30 replies

IllegallyBrunette · 05/12/2008 21:06

It is on the top of his head and I noticed it the other day whilst washing his hair. There is actually two little bits right next to each other but it doesn't look like a normal scab as it's flakey.

At first it looked a bit like cradle cap and so i picked a bit off. It comes of in little bits stuck to the hair, but it isn't getting any better and looks a bit sore.

Can you get Impetigo on your scalp ??

OP posts:
Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 05/12/2008 21:06

He is 6 by the way.

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 05/12/2008 21:17

Anyone ??

Have googled, but non of the pics look anything like it.

It doesn't appear to itch because I haven't caught him scratching it at all.

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christmaseve · 05/12/2008 21:19

Could it be the dreaded nits? They can bite small scabs on the head. Sorry not sure if that's not it.

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 05/12/2008 21:23

I don't think it is nits, as I do check his hair quite regularly and I think the area affected is too big for that.

The web keeps suggesting ringworm, but non of the pics look anything like it.

I will have to take him to the gp i think.

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TWezTheNightBeforeChristmas · 05/12/2008 21:36

I remember havign something like that at probably round about the same age

can't remember what it was called but the scab was on my crown and was hard and flakey

I used to quite enjoy picking it

My Mam has just told me that we had cream for it

and it cleared up fairly quickly

sorry can't be more use...visit to GP definitely the solution

TheVirginGoober · 05/12/2008 21:44

Could it be psoriasis? Does he itch it?

TheVirginGoober · 05/12/2008 21:48

Like this?

SpacePuppy · 05/12/2008 21:52

could he have knocked his head on something say for instance a tree branch and got some dirt lodged in his scalp which is working its way out? else how about eczema? however I think that would be red in colour, flaky though.

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 13:53

Not like that pic no.

It is a little bit yellow/white around the edge and then quite hard and scabby in the middle.

I asked him if he remembers banging it but he doesn't.

Had another look at it this morning and it looks like it might be drying up and shrinking, so I am going to leave it for a couple of days to see if it gets any smaller/falls off and then if not I will get him an appointment.

He said it doesn't itch at all.

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soapbox · 06/12/2008 14:03

Is it ringworm?

look at picture 5 on this slide show

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:41

It is alot worse than that pic and tbh I can't tell if it has a ring around it or not.

However, it does now seem like it is something that needs seeing, as I have now found another little patch further towards his forhead

I reckon it is either ringworm or impetigo.

Makes me feel like my house is dirty or something.

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:44

It is more like this although not as widespread.

My head keeps itching now

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LilMatchGirlInVictorianSqualor · 06/12/2008 16:45

It could be impetigo.
BUT DD & DS had something which was a type of ringworm thing, but not ringworm. DS lost a lot of his hair, we managed to stop DD losing too much but you need to get to the docs quick sharp and get it seen to, if they give you the stuff for impetigo and it doesn't go within two or three days, go back.

mejon · 06/12/2008 16:51

DD had something similar which the GP said was infected cradle cap and prescribed some Capasal shampoo for it. It is coal-tar based and a bit smelly but it did work. I'd get the GP to have a look.

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:53

Was it Tinea Capitis VS ??? That apparently is ringworm of the scalp which is different to ringworm of the skin.

Ds's looks like inflmatory ringworm if it is that. Ds doesn't seem to have lost any hair though.

Ds also has a high temp at the mo, is that anything to do with it ??

What treatment did your dc have VS ??

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:53

Was it Tinea Capitis VS ??? That apparently is ringworm of the scalp which is different to ringworm of the skin.

Ds's looks like inflmatory ringworm if it is that. Ds doesn't seem to have lost any hair though.

Ds also has a high temp at the mo, is that anything to do with it ??

What treatment did your dc have VS ??

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:55

Was it Tinea Capitis VS ??? That apparently is ringworm of the scalp which is different to ringworm of the skin.

Ds's looks like inflmatory ringworm if it is that. Ds doesn't seem to have lost any hair though.

Ds also has a high temp at the mo, is that anything to do with it ??

What treatment did your dc have VS ??

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 16:56

Oooops

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LilMatchGirlInVictorianSqualor · 06/12/2008 16:57

DS didn't start to lose hair until the scab came off, then it got pussy and worse, we had to go to a specialist dermatologist who checked it under an ultra violet light and sent a sample off to the lab.
We used a really strong cream which he said wasn't licensed for use in children and some tablets.
It wasn't tinea capitis but something that he thought was from sheep? we lived across the road fro ma farm and our cats used to go over there,

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 06/12/2008 17:00

Ah right thanks.

We do have a cat but it doesn't go near sheep as far as I know lol.

I will book an appointment for him first thing Monday morning.

He has knocked a big part the first scab off and that now looks very sore and a bit weepy.

I am going to have to go on a washing mission tommorow aren't I.

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 08/12/2008 11:47

Update : Took him this am, and the doc had a good look and said it could be one of two things, one bacterial and one fungal.

He decided to treat as bacterial first as ds also has a high temp, cough and cold, so he has some augmentin.

Also came out with sudafed and ibuprofen as he is not a well lad at all today.

If the sores/scabs haven't gone within a week then I have to take him back, but he said it was good that it wasn't itchy and that ds didn't seem to be losing any hair at all.

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PuppyMonkey · 08/12/2008 11:50

Just to say, I have scalp psoriosis and it often looks like your pic. get some T-gel shampoo in. Doesn't do any harm even if not psoriosis.

LilMatchGirlInVictorianSqualor · 08/12/2008 11:52

If it gets any worse go straight back. Thankfully your Doc seems to know what they are talking about, it took us about ten different appointments to get to this stage!

Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 08/12/2008 11:53

Oh damn, thats what I meant to get from the chemists earlier.

Oh well, will have to send xp out for it.

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Original poster
IllegallyBrunette · 08/12/2008 11:55

Will do VS, and thanks for the advice. It doesn't seem to be bothering ds at all, he doesn't seem to know it is there.

Does augmenten need to be kept in the fridge does anyone know ?? It doesn't say it does.

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