Rashes which don't fade under pressure

[catski]

I'd appreciate some advice (reassurance?) on this. We are in Sweden and my husband has already rung the swedish equivalent of NHS direct, but I'm still fretting.

Are there rashes which don't fade under pressure apart from menengitus? My son has a light pink pin-prick rash over his stomach and back which does not fade under pressure. The swedish nhs direct think it's just prickly heat (it's been about 27 degrees here today but my son has been in just a nappy and doesn't seem especially hot, and there's no rash in his armpits/in the folds of his skin etc).

Other things to consider: he was exposed to chicken pox two weeks ago; he has been crankier than usual all of today; he does not have a fever, has not been sick, does not have cold hands/feet, does not seem to be in pain, is not crying, is not drowsy; my husband was blowing rasperries on him earlier so it's possible it's a snog rash!

Should I continue to worry, or do other rashes (like early chicken pox, prickly heat or snog rash) also not fade under pressure?

Get someone to see it for your peace of mind.Out of hours doctor or A and E.

How are you telling that it's not fading? I had a few scares with pfb dd who was prone to getting a rash whenever she had a fever - and she had lots in her first year. The glass test is quite difficult to tell - try pressing your thumbs down on the rash and sort of squeezing them apart to see if the skin in between blanches.

Agree get him checked out if you are worried but its very reassuring that he is otherwise perfectly well when, if it was meningitis, its likely he would becoming very rapidly unwell.

I did the glass test.

Have just tried your method Prufrock - the skin does seem to blanch but not sure that the spots themselves are disappearing completely. It's actually quite difficult to tell as the spots are quite light pink in colour and very small. I think they may have abated a little as well, or is that my wishful thinking?

The joy and relief you will feel once you have had your ds checked by a medical professional is far preferable to the anxiety you will experience checking him every hour through the night....

I wouldn't risk it, take him to see someone.

My DD1 has v sensitive, pale skin and sometimes gets these panic-inducing pinprick rashes from scratching an itch too hard, or from bathwater that is too hot. In her case, it's nothing and fades in a day or two.

Could it be something like that?

Thank you for all your replies - we are now back from the hospital. They didn't know what the rash is but they don't think it's meningitis or anything life threatening - phew! They said that obviously if he does get a fever or start vomiting or seeming unwell to go back. I am glad we went and got him checked over for my own peace of mind (in spite of my husband's reluctance) so thank you for your advice!

Now, where's that wine....