non-specific rash plus temp of 103. Urgent help ahead of doc appointment!

[hatter]

DD2 has got a rash all over, running a temp of 103, and is horribly lethargic and unhappy. She's refusing calpol and drinks. She's been to the doctor's twice this week, last night he said he thought it was an unknown virus and not to worry, but she just seems to be getting worse. The rash is in some places little spots and in others great big (50p plus) red blotches. I'm taking her back to the docs in a couple of hours, but I was wondering if anyone out there has had similar experience - by which I mean obviously ill child and doc unable to put a name to it. Are non-specific viral rashes common? What do I say if he says the same as he did last night?

You could ring nhs direct or take her into casualty if you want a second opinion.

First off I would try again to get some calpol down her and also some junior nurofen if she is old enough. The combination is great for bringing the temperature down. You can also sponge her down with tepid water to try and cool her a bit.

If you are not happy I would take her to A&E, if nothing else it'll put your mind at rest. Especially is she appears to be getting worse.

My DD does get non-specific virl rashes but normally Calpol and Nurofen combo brings her temperature down.

I think it's important to try to lower the fever, not sure how much is 103 but if its'more than 39 degrees, I would give her a bath in tepid water. (10 mins in the water but avoid cold water).

hi hatter, exactly the same thing happened with my dd 3 weeks ago: high temperature plus lethargy, followed by a night time vomit. 2 days later she was much better but then a blotchy rash appeared all over her body ( she is 2 and a half btw).The doc said she had a non specific post viral rash and it would clear up and then the very next day - CHICKENPOX!!!! the unmistakeable red spots with a white centre, scabbing after a day or so.I am not saying your dd has chickenpox but that is exactly hpw it started with mine. She has had rashes before - the main thing is to discount very serious ones like meningitis or scarlet fever.I hpoe she is ok.

and yes, it seems non specific rashes are quite common in kiddies.Have you tried the paracetemol suppositories ( if she wont take the calpol by mouth)?

Thanks everyone,

I've been sponging her with a cool face-cloth and then five minutes ago she agreed to have some calpol. Which probably means she'll be all bright and sunny for the doc. Ain't it always so? Hulababy - are these viral rashes quite common then? should I be satisfied with that as a diagnosis? With no previous experience of anything similar it's all rather worrying. She's slept for an hour and half today - she usually has between nothing and 40 mins. And is currently lying on teh sofa whining. She does seem very unhappy.

Is it like nettle rash? White/clear in centre with red around? If so, then my dd had this one week ago all over her trunk. But she didn't feel ill as well. It went after 24hrs as soon as it came. A friend's dd had the same at the same time, but got it worse. She had it for several days, swelling in feet and, after being checked out in hospital, was told it was an 'allergic reation to a virus' and given piriton. It eventually went a few days later. Have also heard via her of a baby that had similar. Don't know if its the same as what you've got. Would be interested to know if anyone else has had this, cos its very odd and I couldn't find it in any books.

We have taken ds to A&E twice with very high temperatures. Even in winter the first thing they did was strip him down to his nappy and give him calpol and nurafen to lower the temperature. If her hands and feet are cold but her head is still hot thats a sign of the body starting to not cope with the high temperature, by taking blood away from the extremities and its important to ignore your gut reaction to warm her up. Keep her cool. DS had a febrile convulsion caused by a high temperature. It is terrifying to watch but the hospital told us that really they are not concerned about them unless they last for more than 10 minutes (!). (ds's was about 30 seconds and that was enough). As for rash, ds had blotches that came and went almost while you watched, caused by a virus and GP told us it could take 14 days to clear up. Hope this helps

hatter - DD gets one of these types of rashs every few months, generally with a slight temperature. I always go into panic mode straight away and end up posting here each time.LOL! My brother used to get them a lot as a child too.

like joanie, ds got piriton for the rash, with added bonus that he slept for ages!

thanks again everyone,

we went back to the docs and he said he thought it might be an allergy and she should have piriton. It does look a bit like nettle rash - very red, but goes white when you press it, quite raised as well. She's perked up know - dosed up on piriton and calpol. I feel sufficiently reassured as she was very grotty and poorly-looking when the doc saw her so I'm sure it's nothing too bad

If you still concerned take her to a&e. I was fobbed off by 2 doctors with the virus thingy, and when they finally admitted her they discovered it was meningitis - i don't want to scare you, it's just i get sick of the neurotic mother label that doctors stick on us.

joanie, I had the same thing as a child. Every time I got a bad cold, I would get a rash and my hands and feet would swell up. An antihistimine would help with the symptoms. I grew out of it and just recently (at the age of 40) started getting the same thing again. Go figure. My dd and ds have both had similar, though not with the same regularity as me.

I did find some info. about it online.