Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

oh my god my child is swelling!

242 replies

Boco · 15/05/2007 18:51

dd2 woke covered in a rash today, which was confirmed as a reaction to penicillin this morning at the doctors.

Throughout the day it's been getting worse, her whole body is now covered in freaky pink and white swellings. It seemed to be getting better a couple of hours ago, then suddenly her face ballooned and her lips swelled up.

Just did a mad dash to the out of hours doctor and got steroids - he said her throat isn't swelling and chest is clear, and steroids should make it go down, but to go to hospital if anything changes.

She looks so bizarre - no way i'll be getting much sleep tonight!

Anyone elses dcs had this? Do the steroids work quickly? Can i stop following her around staring at her and shrieking with horror?

OP posts:
Chelseamum · 17/05/2007 14:52

another hug on your way....

suedonim · 17/05/2007 15:40

Oh Boco, this sounds terrifying and so distressing for your dd. I hope your dd is indeed over the worst of it but as everyone says, err on the side of caution. Someone near us lost their 4yo little boy after a bee sting caused anaphylactic shock. It was so severe that the wee boy was gone in 20 minutes and before they'd even reached the hospital. It's so important that someone takes notice, even if you have to refuse to go home from hospital.

Imo, half the problem with NHS nowadays is that they've lost the art of nursing as in making the patient comfortable. If they can't cure you and have made the diagnosis that it's not life threatening they seem to send you home to just get on with it.

littlelapin · 17/05/2007 15:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tortoiseSHELL · 17/05/2007 16:40

suedonim - that sounds just like my mum - my dad got her to hospital within 10mins, (after a bee sting), at which point her heart had stopped and she had no vital signs etc. Fortunately they revived her, but they said another 2 minutes and they wouldn't have been able to. Very scary! I was away on holiday at the time with my gran, so missed it all!

Boco, something she did was to have desensitising injections - is that something they do for penicillin?

MaryHinge · 17/05/2007 17:21

Boco - hope dd is feeling a bit better on the new anti-histamines. Erythema multiforme is a variant of Stevens Johnsons syndrome isn't it? I wonder if they've considered that - it is usually as a result of a drug reaction. I think there are a couple of MNers whose children have had it.

suedonim · 17/05/2007 17:22

Tortioisehell, that must be so frightening for your mum, to know she can have that sort of reaction. I wonder if bee stings cause particularly bad reactions?

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 17:30

So, I went to pick up dd1 from reception class. When i got there she was looking a bit peeky - the teacher said she's not been right and very quiet - looked at her - and she has chicken pox!

OP posts:
Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 17:33

Mary (who are you usually?) - you're right, i saw that. I still don't think she has EM - the rash is totally different, its a giant urticaria covering all her body - even palms and soles of her feet, but EM is smaller target spots which are rare on the body.

I need to move to the Eurax Lakes and live semi-submerged with my itching family.

OP posts:
ledodgy · 17/05/2007 17:38

I found these pics of EM they are quite big spots

Hilllary · 17/05/2007 17:52

Hi Boco, just read your post about your other dd comming down with CP!! Poor you honey you are certainly getting your fair share this week!

I think the hospital has let you down & If it were me I'd take her to bupa A&E to get a true diagnosis (would cost about £200+ though) She should be in hospital under observation having assistance with her breathing and they should be taking her BP regularly too. Since she has had CP too she really needs the help at the moment.

The team last night have misdiagnosed her and thats a certainty.

I wish I was near to you, I'd be there helping you out. XX

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 18:07

Thanks for the picture ledodge (eeeek) - there's no centre to the spots like with the EM pics - it's all merged into one mass of bright pink, like she's been dipped in pink paint, but also swollen. She's just starting to flare up again now, but hoping the new medicine will kick in. Her eyelids are just starting to swell again.

Hills the bupa thing isnt' really an option right now. We know its a reaction to penicillin, so in a way it doesn't matter if its EM or not, the treatment would be with antihistamines - really really hoping these ones give her some relief. We all really need some sleep tonight.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 17/05/2007 18:43

what did they prescribe you this time?

some of those antihistamines are very good for knocking them out and stopping them itching! Fingers crossed it works and you ALL get some sleep!

Hilllary · 17/05/2007 18:45

Boco are you putting her in your bed tonight? I would to keep a close eye on her during the night.

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 19:03

It's called Vallergan Syrup.

Will keep her in my bed tonight. She's eaten some dinner - so good sign.

OP posts:
melsy · 17/05/2007 19:35

oh my bocco , Ive just been reading this and my last few weeks of CP and a night of vomiting, pales into insignificance when I see what your all going through. I hope dp comes out of his cave with both dd's in a state!

I have no wise words with regards to your dd2's condition ,dd1 and myself are allergic to a few things, but apart from vomiting , faint rash and hallucinating (me on erimax!) , theres not been anything more. I am allergic to penicillin,(hence the sub of erimax BE WARNED!), I didnt know the severity of reactions .

I so hope for your poor lo that the syrup works. There is nothing worse than seeing them flailing around and you feel helpless.

I hope you all get some sleep tonight x

tatt · 17/05/2007 20:24

does it look like this www.skinsite.com/info_erythema_multiforme.htm

I'd suggest going to a&e tomorrow and asking to see a dermatologist. If you have to rush in tonight then ask for one then or ask if they have a burns unit. You really want to be sure they are doing all they can before the weekend.

Piriton is the fastest acting antihistamine but not the longest acting one. I hope the vallergan is better for her.

I wouldn't be worrying so much about anaphylaxis now as about ensuring they are treating her skin problems.

misdee · 17/05/2007 20:26

vallergan is very good, hope it gives her some releif and stops the swelling.

tatt · 17/05/2007 20:41

boco I'm sorry I can't do links, the underscore was after info and then before multiforme. Or look under skin disease information sheets and there is a whole load of information and pictures.

I really think your child should be seeing a dermatologist to make sure its not a more serious skin problem, caused by the reaction to the drug. If it is she may need to be kept in hospital for a while. Really hope the vallergan works and you can all get some sleep.

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 20:49

I managed to find your link - thanks. Not really like that as no defined 'spots' - and no centre - more like this little boy

In fact this is how it started exactly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 20:50
  • then gradually areas have gone darker red and other areas more swollen.
OP posts:
tatt · 17/05/2007 21:02

that lad looks like my child after an anaphylactic reaction - except that my child's started with the throat and spread rapidly down the body. Didn't think to take a picture at the time.

Could be stevens johnson syndrome.

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 21:09

Oh just googled that - looks awful! No lesions though, still more like just very bad hives. Hope it's not that - very scary.

She's gone to sleep and the itching is under control - just hope it lasts.

When your child has that kind of skin reaction - does it last long? dds can be all over her whole body - then fade, then appear again suddenly.

OP posts:
morocco · 17/05/2007 21:15

hope your dd is feeling a bit better boco and sorry it's been such an upsetting time.

sorry - I didn't quite understand, is it your other dd who now has chicken pox? if so, speak to your consultant (not gp) to check that your dd has definitely got immunity from having chickenpox a few weeks ago. they can test for this with a blood test if nec. almost certainly she does already now have immunity but it is really really important for anyone on steroids who does not have immunity - all she would need is either an injection or antiviral medicine if she does not have immunity so don't worry about it, but it is worth checking out

Original poster
Boco · 17/05/2007 21:38

Thanks for that thought - yes, it's my 4 year old who now has chicken pox, as of this afternoon DD2 is still covered in scabs so it's clear she's def had it - and a bad case of it too. And as of yesterday at the hospital they stopped the steroids as they thought they were making the itching worse.

OP posts:
SoMuchToBits · 17/05/2007 22:02

Hi Boco, so sorry to hear of all your problems. Hope your dd will be OK. Just one thing to say about Vallergan - it can be really good while it is working, but some children have a slightly strange reaction to it when it is wearing off, and can become a bit disorientated and upset. I used to work as a staff nurse in the recovery room, and this hhappened with a lot of the children who had been given it as a "premed".

Just so you are aware. The side-effects don't last that long, but could be a bit distressing. Really hope everything goes well for you.

Swipe left for the next trending thread