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General health

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Original poster

Help! Baby has sore patch on skin which is raw and growing

23 replies

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:02

Last Thursday my baby had a small spot on her left shoulder. By the evening it had got bigger and looked more like a blister. The next morning it was the size of my thumb nail, raw and weeping. I took her to the doctor who gave us an antibiotic skin cream to put on. Over the weekend it scabbed a bit but still looks angry and has grown more. Now another spot has appeared about an inch away from this. I know it's not itching her, it's not a friction burn either. But it looks nasty. I'm going back to Doctor's later, as he said he'd give her oral antibiotics if it hadn't cleared by today, but wondered if anyone else has seen something like this? I don't want to sound paranoid, but i can almost see the wound getting bigger. It's like a flesh eating bug!

OP posts:

Enid · 31/07/2006 12:04

it sounds just like impetigo

(like a cold sore on the skin, lots of small blisters which weep and join together)

it is VERY contagious - you need an anti viral cream I think I dont think antibiotics can possibly help?

Enid · 31/07/2006 12:04

oh btw it is very common and not dangerous at all, just unsightly

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 12:08

impetigo....thats it.

came to answer the same and it went right out my head.

tis highly contagious, but also heals very quickly once caught and also is not dangerous. looks horrid is all.

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:09

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Enid · 31/07/2006 12:11

your description sounds JUST like it though

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 12:15

well my DD had it, and the docs and school both said no.

it spread

docs and school then both changed minds and docs gave me fucidin cream and within 3days it had gone!!!!

look up impetigo on google images and look and compare. you will have a better idea then for your own self.

HTH

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:16

Actually, Enid, you're right. I've just looked it up online. But is it itchy? Don't think my LO is itching. And it doesn't look full of pus, either. Surely the doctor would have spotted it? And the nursery seemed to think it wasn't either. I'm panicking now that we're infecting the baby room. Think I'd better call them. Thanks for replying.

OP posts:

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:17

We've been putting that cream on - the Fucidin thingy - and it isn't really helping at all. New patch appeared last night. So maybe it isn't? Gahhh!!!!

OP posts:

Enid · 31/07/2006 12:19

there isnt really any pus

baby probably wont notice itching

you need to get at the weeping stuff under the scab with the cream

foxinsocks · 31/07/2006 12:20

sometimes impetigo (and other skin infections)only go away properly once you have the oral antibiotics

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 12:22

how often have you been using the cream???

why I ask is that I kept it topped up (ie, appllyed more than they said) and also put a covering over the top too.

it may still not be tho....they may in fact be right!!!

I have also had impetigo [yuk], and mine spread before I got in under control (mine was after an op tho and was very poorly otherswise. had it al over my face). wasn't itchy, nor pussy (right spelling/word?), but was sore.

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:25

3 times a day with the cream. There's not a scab as such - it's more like a film. Sorry for TMI! But it does look a bit like some of the pics.

OP posts:

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 12:36

maybe, like someone has said, your child will be one of those who needs the oral anti-b's.

are you going back to the docs at all?

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 12:46

Yes, have appointment at 5.00 tonight. Do you think I should get her out of nursery asap?

OP posts:

mummyhill · 31/07/2006 13:30

I would take her from nursery just to be on the safe side.

beckybrastraps · 31/07/2006 13:32

Our doctor says oral abs if it's spreading, plus the cream.

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 13:54

soory.....friend here!!

yes, avoid nursery for today and see what doc says. then phone nursery to see if they are ok for her to come back/

hth

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 19:57

Well, took LO back this evening and he told me he doesn't like to use the word 'impetigo'. He says it frightens people, nurseries and schools. When I pushed him, he said LO's sores were something very similar, but to prove it was, they'd need to do swab tests which was a bit unnecessary. He has given her the antibiotics now, and said if it's not improving by Wednesday then to go back. Am hoping we caught it just in time - tonight there are other 'satelite lessions', as he called them, appearing on the her back. Fingers crossed.
One last thing - we're on holiday next week. Does this mean she can't go in the pool?

OP posts:

mummydear · 31/07/2006 20:10

It does sound very ,uch like impetigo. My little boy had it a few weeks ago. within 36hrs it had gone from size of a little bit, to size of a5 pence piece to about 8 cm in length by 3cm.

It was like looking at a flesh eating bug !!.

He was given oral antibiotics and cream, saw an improvemnet after 48hrs.

If it is impetigo and you now have antibiotic and cream I would imagine that by next week you will be OK. Take the cream with you on holiday.

psychomum5 · 31/07/2006 20:14

Pool next week should be fine.

It might be worth putting the cream on with a loose dressing on it overnight, and the same during tomorrow and the next night... by Weds, or at the very latest Thurs, you should be seeing healing.

And grrr at your doctor for saying that - he should have told you properly in the first place for nursery!!!

(Flame sat here muttering "Oh we don't like the word meningitis, so we just tell people that 'he's a bit poorly'")

mummydear · 31/07/2006 20:24

i think you need to be quite generous with the cream as well. I used to make DS lie still on sofa with out any clothes etc on where the 'wound' was. So I made sure that the cream had a good soak in without it being rubbed off by clothes etc.

Also give babys towels etc a good wash to stop infection spreading elsewhere and to anyone else.

Dimwit Doctor !!

dandycandyjellybean · 31/07/2006 20:37

my 9m ds had this quite recently, and because of where it was (on his tummy right on his nappy line) I kept it lightly dressed even though the general concencus was to leave it to the air. I felt that the constant contact between infected area, nappy and uninfected area was a recipe for disaster, and my way, with regular apps of the cream meant it was gone in about 5 days. hth.

Original poster

Cakehead · 31/07/2006 21:25

Yes, mummydear, I was convinced it was a flesh-eating bug too! She's had the cream on over the weekend, but it hasn't shifted. She's got oral antibiotic to take now as well. Hopefully we'll blast it. I was cross he didn't say, though. Had some of her little baby friends over for tea on Saturday and was letting her crawl around with it uncovered. Have called their mums and confessed now...

OP posts:

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