Could my mum’s neck rash in her care home be shingles?

[AInightingale]

For the past week my mum, who is in a care home, has been scratching the back of her neck. It's sort of blistered and inflamed. I alerted the staff but apart from a topical cream they haven't suggested anything. She is 90 and has dementia but is otherwise healthy for her age. I wish I had an image of it but I don't - was just wondering about shingles and if they can start there - recall my granny having shingles which I THINK were on her neck, but a long time ago obviously. (It was immediately before her falling into a very deep depression which may have been coincidence but my mum always blamed it!) Anyone know if they are usually itchy, or is this just more likely dermatitis or summat?

Stupid AI title, sorry. 🙄

Cant really tell without seeing it. Shingles is generally itchy, burning, tingling or sore. The spots tend to appear in a line or clusters and mostly look like clumps of small blisters.
Edited to add that it can appear anywhere on the body, generally it doesn't cross the midline so if you drew an imaginary line down the middle of a person shingles would normally all be on one side or the other.

Ask them to get the gp to look at it.

Might it be dermatitis caused by the sheet it towel detergent?

I would ask for a GP to have a look at her even if it's not shingles.

It would be an odd place for a rash though, it's about the only place no clothes touch!

The GP is never out of the place so don't understand why she hasn't been seen.

It could be Shingles, does she seem to be in any pain? Either where the rash is or headache? I felt the most ill I had ever felt when I had it, but everyone’s symptoms can be slightly different or more/less severe.

Agree with others that shingles rashes tend to be in lines or bands, particularly horizontally, so see if you can see anything like that. But sounds like a gp opinion would be the best option given the circumstances.

The dementia means that she can't verbalise pain very well, but there is just this constant scratching of the area. Although that might be creating the problem!

Is it on both sides of her neck?

My gran caught scabies in a CH, it was also on her neck and back and very itchy. It’s not blistery exactly but red and inflamed.

Was also wondering about scabies. Yuk.

Could you take a photo?
Either show it to the gp or put it on here.
I think that she's of an age to have had the vaccination though

Is it on both sides of her spine? If so, prob not shingles. Shingles is in the nerves, so doesn’t normally cross the mid line of your body. My DH recently had it on his face and you could have drawn a line down the middle of his nose where it stopped.

Yes I get it, it’s unpleasant to think about, but it’s benign and treatable. It spreads in dorms and any close quarters and in our case we wondered if it was from her washing being done in the CH washing machines.

DM was also treated for it after she found out but I can’t remember if it was due to symptoms or if it was a panic reaction to the news.

Good luck, hope they diagnose and get on top of it x

I should think that scabies is more likely. Shingles is not communicable

Shingles is very very itchy. and at 90 is not unlikely as she’s bound to have had chickenpox.

If you think it is get her seen and on treatment as it’s serious at that age and with dementia

Could it be something as simple as a clothing label having irritated her? And now it’s set up a vicious circle of itch-scratch-itch? What have you tried to soothe it so far? Germolene is good as it has local anaesthetic in it which stops you scratching, so could break the cycle.

Thx for replies. I will try to get up Sunday/Monday and speak to someone senior about it. It's the way care homes are - there is never anyone in the nurses' office when I'm there. I had to leave a message with the manager in reception. She needs personal care, help with showering etc, so a more widespread rash would be obvious to them.

How is she now ?

They 'sent a photo' to the GP who prescribed hydrocortisone cream and oral antibiotics, I'm not sure why the ABs were prescribed except that it seems to be a care home's go-to for absolutely everything!