Does this look like early stages of chickenpox or something else?

[Tabbycat12345]

Hi really hope someone can help me.
My 1 year old son started a fever on Thursday which came down with nurofen.
On Saturday he started to develop a rash on his feet which initially I thought was eczema as he does usually get it there. The rash however seems to have got worse and worse and has now spread up his legs. There are a few spots around his elbows, he has 2 spots around his mouth area and 2 on his bottom. There are none on his hands or the soles of his feet.

I phoned 111 last night who have called back this morning and they think it may be chicken pox although haven’t even seen any photos. They have advised me to take him to a pharmacy when they open. I’m just worried in case it’s actually something more serious as I didn’t think chicken pox looked like this but he is my first so I don’t really know how it starts. He is otherwise fine I himself but scratching a lot. He has also just recovered from his second bout of tonsillitis in 2 months if that is relevant at all.

Really appreciate any advice anyone can offer. If your little ones had chicken pox did it start like this?

That looks like hand foot & mouth to me

Not chicken pox, probably hand foot and mouth.

Have you done the glass test on it? It's just it looks a bit purple to me, but it could just be the photos. Otherwise it does look more like excema than pox. They don't look blistery? Or it could be hand foot and mouth? Anything on his hands?

Hand foot and mouth. They can also get spot on knees and bum.

Can it be hand foot and mouth if there is nothing on the soles of his feet or on his hands? Both of those are totally clear

Yes they disappear under a glass

They look a bit dark for chickenpox tbh. Is he in childcare and has anyone in his setting had it recently? If not, it wouldn't be my go-to. We've not had HFM but I should think it's more likely.

@wedidntmeantogotosea

He goes to nursery normally twice a week but has only been once in the last week. They’ve said nothing about any outbreaks

These are the spots on his arms if it’s helpful at all. As I say nothing on his hands. Does anyone know if you can get hand foot and mouth without spots on hands?

Doesn’t really look like chicken pox at all on his feet. Chicken pox at the start are bright red I think. HFM or impetigo perhaps? A pharmacist will surely be happy to take a look and then can send you on to a doctor if you need one. I would do that.

I think also chickenpox tend to start on the neck , ear area and chest

HFM was wrists and ankles for us and I agree with others this is what it looks like to me but I'm not a medic.

Feet now seem to have blistered. Everywhere else just looks like red spots. A bit like insect bites. Going to take him to the pharmacy when it opens.

Hand foot and mouth for sure.

Been to out of hours and saw nurse practitioner. She also thought hand foot and mouth. Anyone got any advice? He seems ok in himself but his legs are just awful and blistered all over

Calamine might help if it's itchy.

Usually a mild disease in children, plenty of fluids and pain relief.

See link below for NICE guidance, hope he's better soon.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hand-foot-mouth-disease/

For us HFM was worse than chickenpox. Give paracetamol every 4 hours, correct dose for weight (calpol instructions under-dose). Plenty of fluids and ice pops, yoghurts, cool and soothing things. The worst will be over in 3 days

Definitely Hand foot & mouth. My DS had it twice (caught it from nursery) looks worse than it actually is.
It didn't seem to bother my DS very much. His was awful especially around his mouth. Was full of blisters but healed very well after 7-10 days or so