Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

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

DH is covered in a really weird rash - does chicken pox show up differently in adults???

58 replies

Flamesparrow · 15/08/2008 22:44

The kids have both had/are having chicken pox this fortnight.

He's never had it.

He's been feeling off for a few days, had one pox-like spot, but nothing else.

Now he is covered all over his back and chest with a weird rash - it looks like a pressure mark from when you have been leaning on a bobbly blanket/german measles?!?! He has had german measles.

It doesn't look like pox unless it is the very start and they haven't raised yet.

I'm worried

He's tired, and has been off colour for a few days.

OP posts:
Fanlight · 16/08/2008 09:42

Perhaps he has c/p but is reacting to it in a strange way or something..?

Odd.
I'd persist with a second opinion as it could be a complication or something iyswim?

AvenaLife · 16/08/2008 11:49

The can't do an accurate assessment over the phone. I have spoken to other parents on this site who have contacted NHS direct because they thought their child had a fit, they were told they were just night terrors , another was told her child't leg had swollen up because she'd got it stuck in the bars of her cot.

The thing is, NHS direct should not be diagnosing over the phone because they can't see the patient, they should refer to the appropriate medical service. It's rediculous that they can assume what is wrong without seeing the patient, nor are they doctors!

I hope he is ok. I would take him to A&E if you are concerned as it doesn't sound like NHS direct are being helpful. He could do with seeing the out of hours doctor, if he can't see one then take him to A&E to see a proper qualified doctor.

Flamesparrow · 16/08/2008 11:59

They won't see him unless he has been asked to go in. It was a similar conversation of "if it isn't causing a problem, who cares?"

It was the out of hours doctor we spoke to, not nhs direct. He is of the opinion that doctors are infallible so there is no need for a second opinion

Off to look at the adult cp site

OP posts:
Flamesparrow · 16/08/2008 12:01

It looks nothing like that!

Gah.

Going to try and talk sense into him. Where it looks more of measles origin than anything else, I am (obv) a bit worried!

OP posts:
Flamesparrow · 16/08/2008 12:10

Hard to show on photo, but this id DH

this is DD

I would expect DH to look vaguely like DD, even if they were all pin prick close together.

DOES it look like CP and I am just nuts?

OP posts:
psychomum5 · 16/08/2008 12:48

looks like a viral rash flame.......boy obviously!

maybe he is fighting it, but they are certainly not CP spots (as you can tell).

I reckon he has something, and with his freak immunity, he is doing odd stuff. if he is coping with normal pain relief then keep him wrapped up and warm and give him sympathy.

Frizbe · 16/08/2008 13:03

Flame measles is going around at the mo, looks a bit suspicious, I'd get Dr to check him out.

Flamesparrow · 16/08/2008 13:39

Ah, ye olde non-specific viral rash

He is going to have a bath and see if the warmth makes anything occur. DD is developing more spots by the minute poor thing is going to be pickled by the end of the day, and they are all going really nasty looking

OP posts:
psychomum5 · 16/08/2008 14:38

hows it going......bath helped any????

AvenaLife · 16/08/2008 15:17

Has he had a fever, headache and sore throat?

Flamesparrow · 16/08/2008 16:05

Bath has made him feel worse, but rash has improved.

Had mild fever on and off over past few days, blinding head ache, slight sore throat.

Rash blanches btw

OP posts:
AvenaLife · 16/08/2008 16:21

It sounds alot like scarlet fever. Ds has had this, the rash was similar, fever, headache, sore throat. The rash improved within hours. His tongue went slightly purple for all of an hour so I could have easily missed this.

He needs to see a doctor for some antibiotics as soon as you can if it is this. Just phone them again and tell them that he has a sore throat, mild fever, headache and rash. It really does sound like scarlet fever, it looks the same from the photo. It can cause kidney problems so he does need to see a doctor. i may be wrong though but if you tell them it could be this at least he'll get seen.

FamilyRant · 16/08/2008 16:23

Oh yes!!!! I remember when DS had a strep rash and it looked very similar to scarlet fever, and that looks very similar to this (iyswim).

Will kick him a bit

FamilyRant · 16/08/2008 16:23

Oops ignore the name....

FamilyRant · 16/08/2008 16:25

"The rash is something to look out for in a child that has chicken pox as this may indicate a secondary infection."

AvenaLife · 16/08/2008 16:33

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_fever

Here, he won't have all of the symptoms though.

Fanlight · 16/08/2008 16:40

Yes that;'s what I was on about earlier, please get him checked out.

AvenaLife · 17/08/2008 11:02

Have you managed to take him to see a doctor yet? How is he today?

Flamesparrow · 17/08/2008 12:05

Stubborn git is refusing to go . He says he will be fine until tomorrow and something about not wasting out of hours time.

He still has the rash, is aching all over, and now has very painful balls (far tmi for Psycho sorry)

He seems happy enough though, I am a tad hungover today, and got up so he could go have a bath, collapse in a heap etc, and he told me to go back to bed, it was just in pain rather than feeling ill This is the man who is dying from a sneeze.... if anything the way he is being is making me more worried!!!

OP posts:
tink123 · 17/08/2008 12:59

Look out for signs of him turning really ill. Tell him to go to drs.

Dh got cp last year from dd. We thought it was hilarious when he got it, as all spotty.

Anyway 5 days later husband was critically ill with multiorgan failure in ITU. Had a temp of 41.2oc that would not come down. Had pneumonia, the spots had spread through all his internal organs. They thought he would die.

Saying that, this is very rare for it to be this bad, but just thought i would mention it to show what can happen.

AvenaLife · 17/08/2008 13:26

I would be tempted to call them out today to take a look at him, it does sound like he's deteriorating. Just give them a call and tell them you need someone to come out and see him as he's unable to get to the out of hours. Tell them he's collapsed today already. I wouldn't leave this any longer. He does really need to see a doctor.

luvaduck · 17/08/2008 13:47

sounds like he's got orchitis (painful balls)

orchitis plus rash - he either has rubella or a coxsackie like virus, although a lot of viruses can do it

i would go def see a doc today if hes collapsed (it will prob end up being non specific viral and there will be no answer) if you are really concerned about him take him to A+E if not out of hours doc

orchitis can affect his fertility (although notice you have 5 kids - is this an issue??)

luvaduck · 17/08/2008 13:49

sorry its psychomum who has 5 not you!

Flamesparrow · 17/08/2008 13:52

Ooh he hasn't collapsed, I meant he could go curl up in bed etc.

He's still in the bath, the rash is wearing off (I think, or he is hot) and he says it is easing the aches. He is a f*cking stubborn git at times and will not be swayed with this

Our doctor denied rubella with DS - it was clearly rubella, but he said "it might not be, so keep him away from pregnant women and we won't bother contacting CDC"

Only have 2 kids, wanting a third so will be shattered if this affects his fertility because he is too stubborn.

OP posts:
AvenaLife · 17/08/2008 13:56

I'd say anything to get him to see a doctor then plead ignorance.

Swipe left for the next trending thread