Advice needed please - When to take an 11 month old with rash to doctor

[minkeymonkeymoo]

OK, came someone please advise me. When do you take your baby (mines 11 months) to the doctors with rashes.

My lo woke with one all over his body and half his face this morning, He's been fine within himself - and it disappears when I do the glass test - and the rash faded a bit after breakfast but came back stronger before his morning nap (which he's taking at the mo). He has been ill (bad cold,ear infection and temp) which he is getting over now and was on antibiotics last week but developed a (different) rash with that so that was changed to a different antibiotic. However, he didn't appear to have a reaction to that and has been (mostly) fine.

DH says I should take him but I am worried I will come across as a neurotic mother! However, I would hate to not go and it be something that needs treating.

Please can I have some advice?

Thanks

I don't think any decent doctor would ever criticise a worried mum for bringing her baby to them.

My HV once told me that babies only really need to see the doc if they also have a temperature and/or are unwell in other ways.

Could it be eczema ? My DS developed dreadful eczema in reaction to some very cheap vests when he was 6 months old. My friend's DS had Chicken Pox at the time so I took my DS off to the doc's .... he was fine about it.

Ask for a call-back from your doctor and ask them what they think - they know your child's recent history after all.

My personal view is that I don't care how silly I look if it's the health of my child at stake. They can't call the doctor themselves they depend on me totally. I never go to the doctor for myself but I'm on the phone to the surgery every five minutes for them.

In my experience surgeries don't mind at all when it's babies/young children - better safe than sorry.

I have the same fear of appearing neurotic! So DD (17 months) has hardly ever been to the doctors but still seems to be alive. What we have done is pop in to see a pharmacist (there's one in our local supermarket) and basically ask them whether you need to see the GP. So then you can get some reassurance, and if you go to the GP you can feel that another health professional thought you should go.

We did that when DD started getting some spots - thought it might be chicken pox, pharmacist said he wasn't sure and it was worth taking DD to the doctors, and doctor said it was indeed chicken pox.

For what it's worth, personally, I would take DD to the doctors if she had a rash and had just been ill and on antibiotics like you describe.

Hope your DS gets better soon, whatever it is!

Thanks for your views. Our dr won't do call backs - and I can't get hold of my HV (she works at a different practice on Mondays where we can't contact her, all we can do is leave a message on her answerphone and she will call me back at 6 - I know from experience!)

I am waiting for lo to wake up and will then call for an appointment.

BikeRunSki - I kind of agree with that - and that's why I am worried about wasting the doctors time. But ....!

Thanks again all. This site is fab!

Oh yes, I agree that doctors don't mind if you are a parent worried about a child!

Thanks Wigeon. Need to pop to Sainsbury's this afternoon so maybe will do that and call the drs from there. Poor thing, he must get better soon!

Also, they tend to be more worried about the under 1s, so if your DS was aged 5 you might be more inclined to keep them at home and see how it developed, but because your DS is still a baby, I think it's not neurotic to get him checked out.

Why do I still feel neurotic then I am there ... even when it is something?! Silly mummy!!

I would like to add that I am not this indecisive in any other area of life

We see the pharmacist a lot too!

How is your DS, minkeymonkeymoo?

Viral rashes are SO common with coughs/colds - mu kids get them all the time. But my GP always says to me that they'd rather see 100 kids with overly-worried parents than miss one that needs treating so tr not to feel bad about it.

My dd always get viral rashes, she also got one after taking anti botics so doc was worried there may be an allergy. She also got one after her friend got chicken pox so I was on red alert thinking she was coming down with that but didn't.

Always go to the doc if you are worried.

Thanks all for the replies to this thread.

I phoned the doctor's surgery and asked if I should go to a pharmacy first for advice and was told they would probably refer us to the doctor anyway and she had just had a cancellation so we got an appointment 20 mins after I called (that's service!)

After 30 mins and 2 doctors, they decided it was probably measles. Boy, am I glad I went in now! Just waiting - STILL! - for the swab to see whether it is or isn't.

Anyway, my little boy is much better now, thank you, and the rash is clearing up. Just wondering if, when the swab does finally arrive, if his rash has gone whether they will be able to tell if it is/was measles or not. Anyone know?

Pleased to hear your maternal (and DH's paternal!) instinct that something wasn't quite right was proved correct but sorry to hear your LO prob had measles! Glad to hear he is recovered. No idea about the swab results I'm afraid.