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Children's health

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Need a wee bit of advice on ds if there's anyone around?

14 replies

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 13:06

He's 5, had all his jabs. I've probably left this way too long, but for a couple of years now he's been prone to getting what look like bites on his arms and shoulders. Just three or four, they occur in the same place he had his MMR (coincidence?) and on his shoulder and other arm. Sometimes he'll get the odd one on his back and belly too, but his shoulders and arms seem to be the common places.

It comes up as a red lump with a little dot in the centre that I presumed was the actual bite area.

He'll get them every 3 months or so. So he'll have nothing for 3 months and then 5 bies will come up within a couple of days.

He's not ill with it at all. But they do itch and sometimes you can see the patch around the mark is red and inflamed.

I've always been at a loss to explain them. I've checked his bed for mites, but there is no other evidence of them in or around his bed. I've aired his mattress outside as well as his duvet and pillows. I've changed all his bedclothes and pjs. In fact I did all of that just last week and yet last night the marks were there again.

Does anyone have any idea what they might be?

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Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 13:16

Anyone?

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tkband3 · 23/03/2009 13:22

It sounds a little like something DT2 had a couple of years ago...check out this website to see if the spots are similar.

GP told us to do nothing, that the spots would go in their own time, but that it could take a couple of years . In DT2's case, it actually only took a couple of months. But I have read another thread on here that suggested a treatment - if you do think this is what it is, then I'll see if I can track it down for you.

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 13:29

Hmm, thanks tkband3 but I don't think it's that. His are more like mozzy bites whereas those look a little like warts. Plus he doesn't get anywhere near as many as that. He may only get 4 or 5.

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Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 13:34

I've searched all the medical sites and can find nothing.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 23/03/2009 13:48

sorry no advice apart from next time he has them go and see your nurse/gp and see what they say

helsbels4 · 23/03/2009 13:51

Do you have pets? Could they be flea bites? Or maybe he visits someone else's house just before he comes out in the spots?

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 14:11

I've looked at bites. They do look like flea and bed bug bites, but herein lies the problem...

We have no pets.
No-one else gets these bites.
There is no evidence of fleas or bed bugs in his room.
They occured in our previous house and are still a problem in our new house.
There doesn't appear to be any kind of pattern expect that he'll be clear for around 3 months and then come out in up to 5 random spots.

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tiggerlovestobounce · 23/03/2009 14:17

If the bites are all occuring in one area each time then could it be one insect causing them (so an occassional thing rather than an infestation IYSWIM). Sorry, not a nice thought! I have had similar happen to me - a few 'bites' all appearing close together, and had assumed that some insect must have crawled onto me without me noticing.

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 14:22

Yes I did consider that, but I've stripped his bed and found nothing!

We've been here since Aug, before that we were up North. This has been happening for around 2 years now. So this is a long-lasting versatile insect that's very very good at hiding!

Do you think I should call the GP?

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tkband3 · 23/03/2009 14:25

Sorry, should have said, DT2 only had a few - nowhere near as many as in those pictures! Sometimes they looked like little white-head spots, and if you squeezed them, a bit of white stuff came out (apologies for TMI!).

Not trying to push this as a diagnosis, by the way, but thought I should give you a bit more info!

ingles2 · 23/03/2009 14:25

it probably is in an insect bite Rhubarb.
Do they bother him? does he scratch? is he unwell at all?
If no, I'd leave it, some people (ds1 here) are just particularly tasty to any insect.

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 14:29

Thanks tkband3, I didn't feel you were pushing a diagnoses, you're just comparing it with something you already know about. I appreciate that. I don't think, looking at those spots, that this is what ds has. His spots are not white but red.

'Tis very strange. Could just be an insect getting in there every now and then and irritating him I suppose.

Thanks everyone!

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Idrankthechristmasspirits · 23/03/2009 14:57

I get bitten by something every few months even though no one else in the house does.
GP said it was an insect bite, we live very close to marshy grasslands which are insect heaven. Apparently the bugs like some people more than others......

I use lavendar oil for the itching, it calms the spots down very quickly. (i always get bitten around my ankle and back.)

Rhubarb · 23/03/2009 15:00

Thanks. I might just put it down to that then and not bother the GP. It just seemed odd that it happened every couple of months and the spots seemed to occur in roughly the same places each time.

He's not overly worried by them so perhaps I should chill out too!

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