DS has a rash all over his body, red cheeks and strawberry tongue. Is it scarlet fever?

[LoonyLyraLovegood]

He had a high temperature yesterday but that's now gone. Now he has a rash of tiny pinkish spots all over his body, trunk, limbs, hands, feet, face etc.

His tongue is also pretty red with a thick white coating.

He's not his usual self but is eating and doesn't seem too ill. I'll take him to the doctor tomorrow but was wondering if anyone had an idea what it might be.

There has been scarlet fever at his school, a few weeks ago, but he doesn't fit all the symptoms listed in our Great Ormond Street child health book.

Any ideas?

does it feel roughish-like snadpaper almost?

Kind of sandpaperish, yes.

yes-i think it's scarlet fever then. sounds just like it. he will need anti-iotics asap.

Have any of your children had it? He doesn't seem ill enough to me but maybe it's just the early stages.

ds1 had it and he wasn't terribly ill. the anti biotivs kick in after about 48 hours i think.

It does sound like scarlet fever. He will need antibiotics even if you don't think he seems that ill because scarlet fever can lead to complications.

Thanks. I'll get him to the doc asap.

yes you must get the abti-b's. to be honest i would take mine tonight to the out of hours and get him started if i was you.

It sounds like scarlet fever to me Loony - especially the sandpaper rash. My mum recognised the feel of the rash immediately when ds1 had it. Definitely needs anti-bs if it is.

I took DS to the doc's this morning as he wouldn't really say if it was scarlet fever or not.

Our surgery sems to have a policy of being vague and non-committal as they never seem to actually diagnose anything.

When DS has hand, foot and mouth they told me it was a 'non-specific virus' and it was only when he ended up in hopital with it that we had a diagnosis.

Anyway, they've given us some penicillin, so whatever it is it should be gone soon, unless it's a virus.

My dsd had this and there is something called scarletina which is a variation (I think) of scarlet fever. I think there is quite a bit of it going around. Dh said her skin looked liked corned beef, if that helps...