Can anyone identify this rash?

[WeirdRash]

12 year old, has been not quite 100% all weekend, but can't pinpoint what feels wrong, just not right. Woke a little while ago with this rash. It's on the right side of his abdomen with two clusters of spots on the same side of his back. Any ideas?

Might help if I attach the pics!

Could be shingles! Is it painful around the area? Get him checked asap x

Shingles my lovely... get your DC an urgent doc appointment in the morning.

They can give antivirals but they have to be given quickly.

No pain at all, but he says that it was tingling a little on Friday. I'll book an appointment first thing. Thank you.

It looks like DC is scratching... Putting oats in the bath and using Aveeno cream ( because its made with oats) will really help your DC stay comfortable.

You will also be able to use an antihistamine

My DD 17 has had shingles 3 times when she gets run down so i am well used to going into shingles relief mode!

Yep. The tingling is definitely a sign.

If the rash is on his torso and will be fully covered by clothes while he is at school, then he can go to school if he feels well enough.

My DD was just too tired to go ... it will take a few weeks for your DC to feel their normal self.

Thank you, he's very, very tired this morning, so will be a home with me. The rash hasn't spread anywhere else. I've requested a doctors appointment, so hopefully he can get started on some treatment. The rash apparently feels "weird" this morning, so I'll get him in an oar bath and dig out the Aveeno!

The doctors have refused to see him. They've advised that the pharmacy might take a look

It's Shingles, poor fella.

Shingles. The last time I had shingles I spoke to the GP who offered to see it. I said no point as I had had it before in the same place. She gave me antivirals to take straight away. I’m not sure if the treatment would be different for a child?

Noooooo ! Im appalled .

Please keep us updated OP.

I would ring again in the morning ... fib , and tell the doctors practice that pharmacist thinks its shingles .

We did end up seeing the pharmacist, who was actually really very good. She was annoyed though that the GP had sent us to her, because clearly they hadn't read his notes. He has a neurological genetic condition that makes him more vulnerable to shingles (I didn't realise that it did) and said that he absolutely needed to see the GP, because she couldn't give antivirals due to this. She phoned on our behalf and strong armed them into giving us an appointment. The GP confirmed, but also wouldn't give anti virals until he'd spoke to DS's paediatrician, but by then it was too late in the day. I ended up going directly to her secretary this morning and spoke to her this afternoon. She's told us to watch and wait and if the rash spreads, she'll get the GP to prescribe. Honestly I'm really starting to lose faith in the GP system, they just want to pass the buck to anyone but themselves.

DS is in good spirits though, uncomfortable and tired due to the itching and soreness, but coping well with it. We have some new spots this evening, so he'll be at home with me, on his paediatrician's advice until they've crusted over.

Oh and good shout on the pay baths, they've helped sooth the spots enormously!

*confirmed shingles and spoken, not spoke!

That’s so shit, fancy making a kid with a genetic neurological condition develop full on shingles and no antivirals.

my kid doesn’t have neurological condition but did have shingles aged about 6 or 7 .or something. They were actually fine with it but I understand that that experience might not read across to other children.

They have wasted so much time, antivirals work best taken ASAP.

The NHS guard antivirals like they’re the Crown Jewels, regardless of the suffering going on. Private GPs are like ‘wtf ???’ when they hear they’ve been refused. Can you afford to see someone privately? You shouldn’t have to, of course, but the antivirals could really lessen his suffering.