Unexplained marks on baby

[Firsttimemama08]

Hi mamas my 5 month old son has some weird looking marks on his legs and stomach.
first noticed on Sunday but looked very small so not really alarmed and we were catching a flight back home so didn’t really think much of it.
However they have not gotten worse. Much bigger and look sore, although there are scabs so maybe that’s a good sign??
I posted on other app and user said looks like staph infection. Which is apparently contagious and potentially quite dangerous.

any nurses or doctors here that know what it could be? have appointment with GP booked but not till tomorrow morning.

Pharmacist here - that is 100% not chicken pox.

Could be impetigo, looks like a skin infection from the pictures. You need to see a GP to get a prescription. I am surprised your doctor hasn’t gotten you in today to be seen due to the age! Can you possibly ring and say you’ve been to the pharmacy and they’ve advised an appointment ASAP.

This is what I think too. My 3 DC had it quite a few times, my youngest had it as a baby where she had eczema. It can spread really quickly where the skin is broken.

Have you got a walk-in centre? Or take him to a pharmacist?

I'm not suggesting this, more seeing what the professionals think, but there is a level of NHS care between GP and A & E - urgent treatment centres for non-life threatening problems. In our area these tend to be quieter and if you go there you know you're not tying up resources that someone who has, for example, had a heart attack would need. But it might be different in different areas?

Please go to a walk in they do not look right at all and nothing at all like any chicken pox I’ve ever seen hope you get some answers

Agree and the OP has said about one but it's 'quite far from us' which according to other posters means a trip to A&E is appropriate. 🙄

*It isn't dangerous advice.

Baby needs to be seen by a doctor, doctor should have appointments for a baby. It is not A&E because the parent doesn't want to drive to minor injuries. She has rung 111 that also said not A&E.

Seriously imagine the wait and what A&E will say when you turn up to A&E and say my baby is perfectly well with no temp and well in themselves but they have this skin infection.*

Even experienced Drs have misdiagnosed patients in this era of 'send us a pic and we'll send you a prescription' - but randoms on mumsnet can confidently say by looking at a couple of pics that it's not an emergency? Yeah, ok - I stand by my original post, it's dangerous advice.

A pp has said that their baby was admitted to hospital with similar symptoms and had a staphylococcus infection, but, you know best! 🤷🏻‍♀️

lemmein

No I have no idea what it is, a doctor needs to see it, but A & E is not a catch all for people that don't want to make a journey

You have no idea but you're sure it's not an accident or emergency?

Anyway, none of this helps the OP - it's just very annoying on every single one of these threads you get a fucking 'know-it-all-know-nowt' who confidently tells the OP A&E isn't appropriate. A thread a few months ago was filled with such posts and the OP ended up being very seriously ill. Posters should think before they make a mum of a young baby feel bad for using the health services available to her.

Hear hear

If it's a staff infection it needs treating asap. I'd go to any doctor now (not sure of the time in UK right now) but go to GP or OOH doctor and say you are worried it's a staff infection and there's a chance it will turn into scalded skin. My DS was completely well other than these 'cigarette burns', not even a temperature. It took me about 48 hours to convince a doctor to send us straight to paediatrics at the nearest city hospital. I was told I'd made absolutely the right decision.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Gp has no idea what it is so we have been referred to see a specialist tomorrow. She’s not worried about it because he has no fever, feeding well etc.
I’m now really worried about losing my son. She asked a lot of personal questions, which I totally understand she has to ensure the safety of my baby. But what if the other doctor can’t figure out what caused it? And then it will be classed as ‘inflicted’. They will take my son off me and I can’t cope with that:(

Also another one is starting to appear lower down on his leg. So I think that rules out spider bite.

OP I really feel for you. It does really sound like a medical issue (most likely bacterial infection) to me. GPs are great but they’re not specialists, hopefully the specialist (dermatologist or paediatrician?) can diagnose. Did the GP at least swab it to check for infection? Don’t worry about all the questions, it’s standard. Just answer them as honestly as you can. Good luck.

Take LOTS of pictures of the new one as it appears, in case there’s any questions. Sorry you’re having to deal with that worry on top of worrying about your baby xx

I really don't think they will think you've inflicted them. They have to ask the questions to rule it out though. Hopefully the specialist will take one look and have a pretty good idea what the cause is right away so that he can get something to sort it out.

I'm so sorry, must be very worrying for you.

I second the advice to keep taking photos as they appear and develop. Your phone will show the time and date of them and can be used as evidence if anyone thinks you have caused them. I'm sure they will get to the bottom of it.

Don’t worry about your son being taken away. It won’t happen. They have to ask questions, and it’s right that they do. A paediatric dermatologist will absolutely have seen it before and know what to do.

Out of interest, was he in any outside water at any point? Rivers to paddle / ponds etc swimming?

@mightbeyesmightbeno yes, we were on holiday when they first appeared so he spent time in the sea and swimming pool.

@Derbee i hope so! It’s driving me mad not knowing how or what it is.

@GoTheFcukToSleep Yes hopefully a specialist will have be able to know as they’ll have more knowledge on skin related stuff. No swab was taken today. I’ve been reading stories of babies took away for non-accidental injury there was a case of a young girl with a rare allergy took away from mum on suspected abuse. I know these cases are rare but I can’t help but worry.

Stay away from Google OP! It’s very rare for a child to be removed from its family, it really is a last resort! Do ask for it to be swabbed. Take care!

@Clymene @ednatheevilwitch thank you both. Doctor has asked for pictures from Sunday and Monday however I don’t have any. I guess they want a timeline to see how it ended up looking like that as it is now worse today (I.e. much bigger and darker in colour.) I will keep taking photos from now on.

But no fresh water? Just the sea and pool?