Ds has a faceful of red spots - doctor doesn't know what it is

[jodee]

DS woke yesterday morning with one cheek covered in red spots, the other cheek wasn't so bad but worsened during the morning, spreading to his ear. Took him to the doctors, he ruled out chickenpox and slapped cheek, his words were "well, I just can't put a name to it". I was told to keep an eye on it.
DS seems fine in himself, not lethargic, but has a cough and runny nose. The spots are small and red and raised, not weeping or anything.
I've looked on NHSDirect and NetDoctor, cannot see any pictures which look similar.
Could it be a bad case of hives? Don't think he has any allergies AFAIK.
A possible cause is I took him swimming in the local pool for the first time in nearly a year (he last went in the water abroad on holiday last year and hated it, but loved it now) - could it be something in the water?
Also, the cat has an occasional incontinence problem, any link there?
I've kept him out of nursery school yesterday and today although I've no reason to think it's catching, just looks awful, but was concerned that the doctor couldn't be of more help.
Anybody had anything similar?

Could it be a sweat rash? Maybe he's been hot in the night and laid on that side? He may have a viral rash and they're v common.

Try not to worry too much jodee, these things tend to go as fast as they came. You got any camomile lotion?

The sweat produces a rash in the areas where sweat glands are most numerous - face, neck, shoulders, and chest - especially in the creases between folds of skin.

found this info HTH

Thanks Juniper - the doc did say it could be something viral. I don't have any camomile - what does that do?

bump ... just wondered if anyone else had any thoughts?

sorry i meant calamine too jodee

hi jodee, it sounds like he has a bit of a viral rash which is nothing to worry about and not infectious - dd has had it before, cold/temperature/run down and a rash as well.Most of the time they are just part of the general virus and will pass.You might try piriton which is safe for little ones, in case it is an allergy.

Thanks everyone - it was worrying me that the doc didn't really know what it was, just referred to a 'virus', but I feel easier reading your post, donnie. He's not itching or anything, so I haven't put calomine lotion on(juniper, it dawned on me what you meant just after I posted!) or given him piriton.

It was the cause that was bugging me too - could it have been the swimming pool? The rash showed up two days later.

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jodee - my SIL has had a recent time with German measles (rubella) - despite MMR (apparently up to 10 per cent of the rubella component fails so is more common than you would think). Her boy started with one cheek with a rash, spreading to second, not really joining up to look like slapped cheek. He was only a little bit off colour and had a cough and runny nose for a few days before it. The spots were also small, red and raised abit - too small for chicken pox and no blisters. Anyway, the rash was worse when he got hot and also when he had a bath - a very light rash all over his body appeared couple of days later but only really visible when having a bath and went away fairly fast.
Your symptoms sound fairly familiar to say the least - perhaps it is rubella. Her GP said that it was difficult to diagnose accurately as the blood test needed to show up the antibodies would be present if the MMR had worked anyway so catch 22. However, he reckoned that all those symptoms above were fairly indicative of rubella and if not that, then likely to be a very similar viral infection.
She was told calpol for any raised temp. keep away from other chuildren for a few days (up to 5 days after first spots to be safe) and pregnant women in case it is rubella. Also told to avoid bath oils and soap in water - E45 emollient or nothing. Hope that helps. Good Luck.

DD (2) had a rash over much of her body and especially on face not so long ago. I posted on her about it at the time. They sound quite similar to the type you are describing. Our GP said it was probably just a viral rash, but no name/nothing specific. I was told to keep her away from nursery until they had gone - just in case - but no medicines, etc. were necessary. Hope he improves soon.