rash wtf is it?

[Evelynismyformerspyname]

Appeared on pre teen child's back yesterday, very itchy. Spread today to other patches on torso. No fever or headache. No symptoms at all yesterday but says her arm pit hurts today - could be lymph node or unrealated and irrelevant! Also says her legs are a bit tired today - could also be unrelated and irrelevant though!

Any ideas?

Looks a bit like impetigo :-/

Def go see GP

Shingles?

Yes! Actually I agree with idontlike.

Shingles

Blimey.

Was planning to take her to the GP in the morning and wait - our GP is ok with that.

Shingles or impetigo. Have told her to put shower towels straight in the wash just in case.

She's 12 - I thought shingles mainly affected older and elderly adults

Forgot to say - thank you all!

Looks and sounds very much like shingles. My DC had it over the summer, and our GP said she had seen an unusually large number of primary school aged children with it at that time.

We live in Germany - bet they hardly ever see shingles as the chicken pox vaccine is standard.

My younger children are vaccinated against chicken pox but my 12 year old had it as a toddler in the UK before we moved, so it is possible

Will have to remember to tell the GP that she's had chicken pox!

Shingles will always follow the path of a nerve. This rash does look like shingles.
Is it on one side only?

It is on one side so far, yes, although it starts just to the right of the center of her back then goes around her torso, upwards to the front (not in a continuous patch but several patches on back, a couple below her arm pit and a few on her front, quite high up but below her neck. No idea whether it follows a nerve though.

The nerves roughly follow the ribs - so the pattern you describe is classic for shingles

GP confirmed shingles this morning.

Fantastic diagnostic skills on here!