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Original poster

What is this rash? Advice requested please!

55 replies

Hulababy · 04/05/2004 18:55

2yo DD has been a bit off colour for the past 2 or 3 days but I had put it down to hay fever reactions. I was phoned up from nursery today as she had a temperature (38.??? - can't remember exactly) and they wanted to give her calpol. She has also been weepy and wanting to lay on cushions a lot of the day - very unlike her. One minute she has been fine, next complaining of various aches. She often gts her headache, tummyaches, etc mixed up at the moment.

Getting her ready for a bath a while back and she is now covered in a rash. It is on her tummy, back, neck, and tops of legs (seems to be spreading down) - that I have noticed mainly. They are very tiny little spots, only very slightly raised, quite close together, no blisters and blebs, etc. Doesn't seem to be itchy.

Is it just heat rash from the warm apartment and temperature she has had?
Or could it be anything else?

Any advice or help please!!!

OP posts:
shopaholic · 04/05/2004 18:59

Could be what GPs call a 'viral rash' which means basically that its just a symptom of being unwell but not serious. Both my DDs had similar when younger. In fact 6 year old still occasionally gets this when she is under the weather. I wouldn't worry unduly

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 18:59

Did it come up in any particular order? Lots of viruses have rash's but the "childhood illnesses" ones eg rubella tend to start behind the ears/ on forehead and move down.

shopaholic · 04/05/2004 19:01

Just to be extra through - have you done the 'glass test' where you press a glass to the skin and if the rash disappears then it is ok?

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:02

shopaholic - that is what I am hoping. She has had rashes like that before. It is just that this one is all over her pretty much!

Jimjams - I really have no idea. I hadn't noticed beforehand. Nursery didn't mention anything about a rash and it was only when I got her undressed for her bath I noticed. Rest of the time we have been a bit busy and, bad mummy that I am, I didn't think to look.

Oh I hate rashes! I turn into nuerotic mummy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:02

shopaholic - already done that one. As you say, just to be sure!

OP posts:
Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:03

the meningitis rash is like bruises- and by the time they get that the child is seriously ill- I don;t think you need to worry about that yet!

Rash's are common with viruses, both mine get them. I woudln't worry about the rash if she isn't too poorly in herself. That's a far more reliable sign of a problem or not.

BadHair · 04/05/2004 19:03

Chickenpox has been doing the rounds recently - could that be it? My dses had it recently and the spots didn't blister straight away, they started as red bumps. Both of them were clingy and tearful on the first day but the itching didn't seem to kick in until the second day.
I hope she's better again soon.

shopaholic · 04/05/2004 19:04

in that case pour yourself a nice glass of somethnig cold and try not to worry! Hope all goes well (keep the calpol handy for the night)

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:07

She is much more clingy and weepy, but not actually ill as such. Very unlike her as she has been like it at nursery too.

She seems pretty tired too. Given her some nurofen now and going to put her to bed very soon. Her head still feels pretty warm but she won't let me take her termperature - will sneak in when she is asleep

And I guess I just wait and see how she is in the morning!

Jimjams - didn't seriously think it was meningitus but I always have to check!!!

Thanks all. All really appreciated.

OP posts:
tatcity · 04/05/2004 19:09

My youngest seems to get a "non specific" rash whenever she has a virus. They are normally little dots on front, back and legs - I am normally convinced its the start of chicken pox but it never progresses any further!

Hopefully this is the same for your DD. But I would double check just in case.t in case. Hope she gets better soon.

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:09

yeah I know hulababy- just meant don't get too worried by a rash. There is a LOT of chickenpox around at the moment.

Also a friends son had this yesterday- was just a "virus" but he also hd an ear infection- so keep an eye on how poorly she is and go by that.

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:10

I now feel really itchy!!! Why does that always happen?

OP posts:
shopaholic · 04/05/2004 19:15

Agree - ear infections are the ones to watch as they always need antibiotics and can make little ones feel really ill.

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:18

wait till she gets nits I was itching for weeks!

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:20

Oh no!!! Bad enough at moment as I haveen potty traing. All the constant thoughts and talk of wees has had me at the toilet every 5 minutes!

OP posts:
Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:23

Potty training? God I really should do ds2. I just can't get my head round potty training a 2 year old- only just done ds1 at almost 5!

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:25

LOL! It has gone really well and she has had no wee accidents at all since start of the weekend Still have slight problem over the other though but not stressing over it. Was easier than we thought (probably all go pear shaped tomorrow now ) We have been out for a meal, for walks, playing with friends, in the car and to nursery now and still no accidents!

OP posts:
JJ · 04/05/2004 19:25

My son gets rashes sometimes when he's sick, just to reassure you.

But if she's got a sore throat (will she let you look at it with a flashlight and see if it's red?) and a temp, it could be scarlet fever. (Strep throat with a kick is how I think of it.) Antibiotics take care of it quickly. I'd take her in if she's not well tomorrow. Do they have quick strep tests there? Ask for that.

Hope tonight's ok and remember you can give her Calpol and Nurofen at the same time -- well, not exactly at the same time.. tag team them. Argh, hope you know what I mean.

JJ · 04/05/2004 19:26

Oops, meant to add that my son has had scarlet fever, too. He's fine -- antibiotics took care of it quickly.

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:29

sounds like she's doing well hullababy. Hope she's feeling better tomorrow.

hercules · 04/05/2004 19:33

Hulababy, just got bck from hospital. dd has rubella. They said spreads upwards.

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:42

eh? all my books say for rubella "A rash appears on the face and neck spreading to the trunk and limbs". Some say behind the ears initially then face and neck.

The rubella rash can be quite classic though (not always present) type it into google- ds1's was exactly like the piccies (and exactly 2 weeks after a known exposure so easy to dx).

Original poster
Hulababy · 04/05/2004 19:45

Oh no hercules. Hope your DD is okay. I have no idea of where rash started or stopped I am afraid. Checked behind her ears when I out her to bed though and no spots there. Once I know she is sound asleep I am going to take her temperature and check her again.

Why don't the children's health/development books have pictures of all these rashes in theri different stages/forms?

OP posts:
hercules · 04/05/2004 19:45

I have just read something about it juat now that says the same as you jimjams. It was a paed who told us this. Her rash reached her face last.
The senior consultant said hers was a typical rubella rash.

Jimjams · 04/05/2004 19:49

how bizarre. Mind you when I took ds1 to the out of hours doc with a possible meales rash he told me he wouldn't be able to recognise one anyway!! lol.

It's good for a girl to get rubella hercules - the protection from a natural infection is much better than from the vax. Hope she isn't poorly with it. Ds1 was fine- just bored as he was stuck in!