HELP! NHS Direct 4 hour wait - rash suddenly appeared on 11 month old

[MuffinMclay]

I posted earlier about ds's diarrhoea. H had that this morning, but has been poo-free since lunchtime. He's eaten next to nothing, but has had 1.5 bottles of formula now.

I changed his nappy at 5pm, and he was fine (wet nappy, nothing untowards). Then at 6 I undressed him for his bath and he had a rash on his sides, sort of from halfway down his side to his bottom. It is red and blotchy. By 7 it has spead to cover all the bottom half of his back, and can be faintly seen on his arms and face too (but nothing on his front). It goes away when pressed.

Any thoughts? Should I be worried?

bump. Sorry I can't help. I'm sure someone will in a min

Should have added he doesn't have a temperature and doesn't seem lethargic. Has been very grizzly today though.

bump again, sorry I cant help either

The fact that the rash disappears makes it less of a worry.

Temp?
Anything else different?
A rash alone that goes away I wouldn't necessarily worry about
does he seem ok in himself? I know that's an annoying question but is anything else seeming different?
If not, really, I would keep an eye on him but other than that not worry.

Where are you in the country?? The reason I ask is in the South East we have an out of hours GP service called ThamesDoc that covers Sussex, Surrey and London (maybe others. I can get you the number if you want it.

FB x

Teeth? Maybe?

I can't help either, but I don't think I would be worried, if he seems OK in himself and if it goes away when pressed. Keep an eye on his breathing if it is around his mouth, just in case it is an allergic reaction to something, but IME little ones can develop a whole variety of rashes which then disappear.

Hoping someone comes along with more definite advice for you.

I wouldn't worry about the odd bit of loose poo in an 11 month old either, I doubt they're connected

I'm in Herts. I'm pretty sure we have an out of hours service too. I wasn't sure if it was serious enough to call them. I definitely would if it was still there by the morning.

I've just been looking at some pictures of rubella rashes. It looks just like that (he's too young to have had the vaccination yet).

The deal is, if YOU are really worried then insist on speaking to someone at NHS Direct. But if it's JUST a rash with no other symptoms and if he seems well in himself then I personally wouldn't be worried.

Sorry, I'm not a dr and it's hard to tell without seeing him but it doesn't sound too worrying. But as ever, if you're really worried then you should check with NHS Direct/out of hours service.

Is it a solid rash or is it speckled (if that makes sense?!)

You may well have to go through NHS Direct to get to the Out of Hours Service, you could try phoning the surgery and seeing what the answering machine message says.

If it goes away when pressed and he doesn't seem unwell, I wouldn't worry too much. But equally a four hour wait with NHS Direct seems pretty long under the circs. (I tend to use my substitute 'Grannie Direct', i.e. calling my mum, when NHSD is quoting very long waiting times).

I would wait for NHSD myself, but if you are concerned, check out the Out of Hours option. You will still have to be triaged on the phone and in my experience, the NHSD people are more sympathetic as you are more likely to speak to a nurse than a doctor.

Having said that, I am prejudiced as the last time I spoke to an Out of Hours doc he was downright rude. I only didn't make a complaint because I couldn't hear what his name was, no doubt a deliberate mumble policy!

I'm not really worried, but wanted to check that I shouldn't be too worried, if that makes any sense. I didn't want to take him along to a doctors on Monday and find out I should have rushed him to A&E today.

Zephyrcat - a couple of big solid blotches (one on each side of the back), speckled at the edges and in the centre of the back. Speckled on the face and arms.

Tribpot - my GP told me that the out of hours doctors were fairly useless (many are drafted in from overseas because local GPs don't want to do it). Puts me off a bit.

Could it be heat rash? Yes, I ywym about checking you're right not to be worried!

I know exactly what you mean, Muffin. You want to avoid being Hysterical First Time Mum (apologies if you are not a first time mum like me!) but equally don't want to be too laidback as a result! Hope it all goes well.

It could be heat rash I suppose. It really isn't that hot here though. I'll go and google some images of that.

A GP told me that if a baby/child is extremely ill it's unlikely they'll be interested in anything (she tested this by giving dd, who is my second child, a toy). So if he's responsive, has no temp, fine in every other way then I'd say monitor but don't worry overly.

Although I havben't seen your lo it soons just like a viral illness, the diarrhoea and rash would bnoth fit in with that. If the rash goes away when pressed, as you've said it does, he doesn't have a temp or if he does it settles with calpol and/or ibuprofen, he is drinking and passing urine. They are all very reassuring points but as others have said if you are worried get him checked out .

Like your GP's candour, Muffin. Perhaps a response might have been "so why did the GPs refuse to do Out of Hours and thus force their patients to use this (apparently) substandard service?" However, that is highly political and not a topic for this thread!

Funnily enough a colleague came back today from a really good visit to an Out of Hours service down south (Kent) which is really effective and enthusiastic, so clearly they're not all rubbish, but it could be a lot of hassle for very little gain.

Agree with www, when ds is poorly he just wants to cuddle (and, generally, throw up on me for good measure).

Tribpot - yes, I am a first timer, and I've already used up all my neurotic mother cards with the GP (although the one time I didn't take him in until 10 days into a chesty cough, he told me I should have come much earlier).

I'd feel stupid rushing a child to A&E only to be told it was heat rash.

I'm not going to worry. I'll see how it progresses, what NHSD say, and report back later.

Thanks everyone

How is he this morning?

NHSD ended up calling me back at about 8.30. They reckoned it was some sort of viral infection. The rash has vanished overnight, but he is still a bit out of sorts. He ate his breakfast, but vomited back most of it. He's rather grizzly and clingy. I'm sure he'll be fine in a day or two.

Thank you for all the advice last night and for putting my mind at ease.