I think google has just diagnosed my DD3 with Scarlet Fever.....do I NEED to do anything?

[SlightlyMadSweet]

She has the sunburnt sandpaper rash from her fasce down to her thighs - concentrated in the hot folds of her body.
She has the fever.
Although she didn't complain of sore throat DP andI have the sore throat which she may have had but not complained about as she is too young IYSWIM

She has seen GP who diagnosed "non specific viral infection".

She is at least 3 days in already. Is it worth bothering with GP again for ABs? I feel reluctant to go to GP and tell him Google says its Scarlet fever.

I am happy to let it run it's course without ABs given we are already 3 days in, so long as it is not likely to harm her not having them.

Has she got the strawberry tongue? That is quite a classic sign I think.

I know what you mean about google - ds2 had what I STRONGLY suspect was measles 2 weeks ago, saw GP, he had classic signs (according to Google) of measles, GP said 'are you sure he is immunised against measles? Oh, in that case, non-specific virus...' - I'm sure it was.

Tbh, if she's improving then I wouldn't worry about it, but if you need to go back, then ask about scarlet fever.

Oh and I should say she is still bouncing around like a lunatic as long as her fever is kept under control - so doesn't look ill per se.

I knew ds3 had scarlet fever when he had and told teh GP what I thought it was.
I was right of course and he had 10day course of anti-b's

ds3 was about 3 days in before he started teh anti-b's

I dunno she is asleep now so I can't check her tongue. GP checked her mount on Monday though.

TBH I was just googling cos I was querying measles. Reading betweenthe lines GP hadn't ruled out measles (she has rash, temp, and swollen eyes/conjunctivitis, runny nose last week, but missing the spots in mouth and cough). He wanted to see her if she worsened at which point, reading between the lines, he was going to test for measles.

I suppose a mum in the playground could have told me .

She really doesn't look particularly ill though. She looks sunburnt. She has puffy eyes. She is a bit hit and miss with her food. But still bounces around like a lunatic though as long as she is topped up with calpol/nurofen for fever.

If it is Scarlet Fever you do need to get her anti-biotics I think, my little sister and her boyfriend had it a few weeks ago and both had to be treated by a course.

Hope she is feeling better soon.

She does need ABs if she has scarlet fever to prevent permanent damage to her heart. I know someone whose child this has happened to. I really would go back to the doctor if I were you.

ABs are vital for scarlet fever because of the possible complications (rheumatic fever with associated heart damage and also damage to kidneys). These complications can follow 2-3 weeks after untreated scarlet fever.

OK GP's it is.

I am pretty confident. I have been describing her as having sunburn all day, and tiny goosebumps - even before I saw the scarlet fever info.

She did have a white tongue earlier but I think DP had just given her milk.

Does anyone know how long she is likely need to be off nursery? DP wants to send her tomorrow as he keeps telling me she has been OK all day...(apart from the rash, and apart from the temp of 38C of course ).

Bumping in the hope that Emma1977 will see this and advise me on

a) do I sound as if my judgement is reasonable (in the absence of proper examination obv)
b) should I deff repeat GP visit?
c) will my GP think I am a lunatic/pushy/bolshy mother if I tell him that Google says it is SF

We had this earlier in the year. I took ds1 (who had it first) and was told viral. Then dd had it, and I did eventually take her in and the GP said in could well have been Scarlet fever but it was too late to take a throat swab, and the only way to tell would be to take a blood test which he did't feel was necessary as she (and ds1) was getting better.

He said that ABs were not needed as there were getting better, but to bring them back if they started to become unwell again. HTH

Mixed opinions.....I don't want to take her back if I am wasting GPs time, but I do want to take her back if she NEEDS ABs...

Hi there. Sorry I'm a bit slow on the uptake. Only just rechecked my lentils!

From your description, it sounds VERY much like scarlet fever. If it is SF, she needs ABs. You should definitely go back to the GP. I personally wouldn't say you've googled it (red rag to a bull for some GPs!) , just say that you spoke to someone who thinks it is SF. A throat swab can be done to confirm that the diagnosis is correct, and in the meantime she can start some treatment. She is OK to restart nursery as soon as she starts ABs.

I wouldn't be concerned about wasting the GPs time, this all sounds totally reasonable. Also, who gives a toss if they think you're a bolshy mum (unlikely anyway I think)? Sometimes the GPs don't get it right first time and illnesses change over time.

All the best and hope DD gets better soon.

Is it not a Notifiable Disease? (Is that the phrase, I like it anyway; sounds quite grand)

Oh, it is

I had it as a child, it's quite serious apparently so yes to seeing your GP, I would think.

TY Emma....hope you didn't think I was stalking...I was getting mixed opinions on whether it was necessary to return or not, and knew you would point me in the definative direction..although TBH I was leaning that way...now to convince DP...

TBH the rash has changed since Monday. It is more sandpapery than it was then. I shall of course refer to the mum in the playground who spotted it (which I would have done anyway).

By the way, after a few days of the thick white coating on the tongue, this comes off to reveal a very red tongue, with darker red bits showing through (like a strawberry-hence strawberry tongue!) Do go back to the GP, as it does sound like you Dd has it-the feel of SF rash is very distinctive.

DP convinced

Told him about (possible) heart complications and shedding of skin so she will be back to GP tomorrow and

Heart complications are v.v.v.v.v.rare so don't worry about it too much.

Peeling skin on hands and feet is very common though but nothing to be concerned about.

SMS - my ds1 has Scarlet Fever and the GP didn't spot it straight away - he said virus. It was my mum who was convinced about it as the rash is very distinctive and it was very common when she was young. So I took dd back and told the GP - 'my mum says SF' lol and agreed.

AB's definitely needed. Don't want any nasty Strep complications.

Glad you are going back to GPs. It is a notifiable disease and antibiotics are needed for it. I know someone who had rheumatic fever due to untreated scarlet fever - that is serious. But with treatment he should be fine.

she not he