My son has tested positive. Unusual presentation. Hand hold please.

[pizzatoday]

My son (11) took a COVID test yesterday (Wednesday), it has come back positive. I'm an anxious person when it comes to my kids so I'm really scared. Tbh I've been scared anyway as he was really Ill Monday and Tuesday.

Also I don't understand something. It says that you must test within 5 days of symptoms starting but he had a big rash for 10 days before he was even slightly Ill(couldn't get test as rash was literally the only symptom). So he's tested positive on day 13. It's definitely the same rash cause it came up, faded, then came up again when his fever started.

He has had -

2 weeks ago - pronounced rash all over most of trunk, shoulders, folds of groin. No other symptoms and thought it could be a reaction to new clothes he got.

Rash faded after a few days.

The next Sunday night (so after 10 days of rash but no symptoms ) - same rash back up again, headache, dizzy, nauseous.

Monday and Tuesday - high fever (up to 40.6 at one point), lethargic tired, red eyes, headache when moving around. few pinprick blood spots back of throat.

Wednesday and Today - energy normal, headache gone, red eyes mostly better, temperature around 38 without Calpol. Rash still the same, maybe slightly faded.

My GP I spoke to said to call them back if it is COVID because it's an unusual presentation. They considered scarlet fever.

Having the rash ten days before getting Ill??

I'm worrying about MIS-C syndrome later now and fretting this may not be the end of it.

Has anyone else's child had these kind of symptoms??

Thanks

His lips are a bit red and flaky too. Temp back down to 37.7 it's up and down like a yo yo.

It's such a worry when they're ill, but so much more so this year. I'm glad he's still feeling alright OP. Fingers crossed he'll be though it soon. You do sound like you're doing a great job - being anxious about a poorly child is so completely normal!
Keep us posted!

His temperature is more normal now, but there's a purple blood spot on his neck I don't like the look of. I think it's just where he's been scratching but I can't be sure I suppose.

This is so scary

Has he said he's been scratching there? Can you post a pic of it?

@giletrouge yeah he says he's been scratching there and I've seen him scratching there, and on a bit of it you can see the scratch line.

Ok - I'm NOT medical, but that does look like a combination of the rash and him scratching it. Can you ring 111 and will they look at it? I don't know if they look at pictures.

Honestly it does not look majorly worrying but I know that you're worried and you must get reassurance from someone who knows, not from a random (me!). Maybe there's a nurse or doc on here somewhere?

Shout out for a doctor? Is there a dr on mumsnet (pathetic attempt at humour)?

Would you be able to post an anonymous pic of his rash? I’m pretty sure my kids had this weird rash back in Jan.

Sounds really stressful. I hope he will recover ASAP. Kids tend to bounce back quickly
From illnesses.

Hi Op I know this is worrying and it might be best to speak to 111. But just in case it helps my son has a tendency to get petechaie after a temperature.

I was really concerned the first time it happened but he can even get it on v hot days after lots of exercise, it's just little broken blood vessels under the skin.

@giletrouge 111 said the other day they don't look at pictures. On Wednesday when he saw the GP in person it was there (tiny red blood dots), but the bigger ones weren't there. I did point it out to her though and she didn't say anything. I'll keep checking it to see how it goes. Apart from being and looking tired (but still able to play his games and read, eat and drink fine) he seems fine otherwise. Thank you so much for your support. His dad calling me ridiculous and inappropriate when I said I was worried about the purple bits. Grr.

@OverTheRainbow88 Yeah no problem. It's not as yellowish as it looks in the pictures. It's pink but does have a yellowish tinge.

@NeurotrashWarrior oh that's interesting. He has had them from scratching previously but not as bad. He has really pale skin so everything shows up!!

Thank you for sharing.

You don’t happen to have any medical
Friends you could send the picture to and ask their advice?

I had Kawasaki disease in childhood and remember that the rash was yellowish and that the skin on my fingers and toes was flaking. It is quite rare and not many doctors have direct experience with it.

I don't know but I would want to check.

(I'm neither a doctor nor in UK.)

Hands and feet flake with scarlet fever too.

Were his eyes blood shot?

What has the Gp said about it all?

Don't listen to his dad pizzatoday he's clearly useless. Yes I can see he's got really pale skin and it makes everything look worse.
I'm so glad he's still feeling well though. Hang on to that.
Will your GP be available for a talk tomorrow?

My dc had "scarlet fever" a week or two before lockdown and rash was just like that and had the raging temps and an apparently v red sore throat but didnt complain of one.

I wonder now if it was covid19 tbh.

Hope your dc feeling lots better v soon.

Ok so at this point he has been looked over by both paramedics and the GP and both are happy with him? Did you ring the GP back as advised? I understand you say you have anxiety and I have saw your other threads so am aware of that, but honestly you are doing great. You say he is improving and up and about so that's all great news. Make sure he keeps up the fluids. High temps dragging on seems to be normal with covid, I had a high temp for 18 days - it will end eventually. But fluids are vital. Maybe some vaseline for his lips.

OP you are doing great and sound like a lovely mum.

Rash is quite a common symptom of Covid.

heavy.com/news/2020/07/covid-19-symptoms-skin-rash-pictures/

It is well documented that covid presents differently in children, with a rash and gastro symptoms two of the most common.

They seriously need to change their testing criteria for children.

@OverTheRainbow88 my sisters friends are pediatric nurses I showed the first pictures (pre petichae and positive test) to them and they were asking about stiff neck etc, I assume ruling out meningitis. My aunt trains nurses but I've not spoken to her in years.

@greenbluegreen Yes it is yellowish and flaking in the middle of the patches?? He also has red and sore lips and red eyes (although not as red as earlier in the week), temp a bit high during the day (but again better than earlier in week).

That spotty rash is exactly like what my DH had with Covid. Exactly.
The weird thing was there rash came and went, for many weeks in fact.
It is a strange illness, very up and down. DH is fine now btw Hope your son is feeling less tired soon.

@NeurotrashWarrior Yeah his eyes are pinky red a bit. Less now but still there. The GP saw him before he had his positive test, looked at his rash (less petechiae then), took temperature, looked in ears and throat. Gave antibiotics "in case" but said not to give him them if COVID test positive.

@PrivateD00r Thanks for support. Yeah I do have anxiety around my kids xx
Yes the paramedics and the GP saw him. I'm pushing fluids on him. 18 days wow I hope you are feeling better now.

Yeah everyone's puzzled by the rash starting ten or so days before he even began feeling ill.

[quote pizzatoday]@OverTheRainbow88 my sisters friends are pediatric nurses I showed the first pictures (pre petichae and positive test) to them and they were asking about stiff neck etc, I assume ruling out meningitis. My aunt trains nurses but I've not spoken to her in years.

@greenbluegreen Yes it is yellowish and flaking in the middle of the patches?? He also has red and sore lips and red eyes (although not as red as earlier in the week), temp a bit high during the day (but again better than earlier in week).[/quote]
I can't remember if it flaked in the middle but I do remember very clearly that the underside of the flaked bits of skin had small yellow dots which as a child I used to peel off and play with.

Hoping it's something simpler but this is also treatable.