ACK! Mystery rash on ds9...

[DIY-DY]

He slept late this morning, and I had to go get him up. He's just been dragging all morning, really out-of-the-ordinary tired. He doesn't have a fever, no stomach ache, no cramps, no itching, no swelling, no coughing. I thought he'd just stayed up too late reading.

Then we sat down to breakfast. I looked up and his face is SPLOTCHY! He has this red rash that sprang up all over his face. His ears are red. It's weird. He says it doesn't itch, it just feels "radiant, like when you get sunburned."

It's not on his torso or limbs. It's not spreading. He says he just feels tired, and he can feel the heat radiating from the rash, but says otherwise he feels fine. Honestly, if it was one *or* the other, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Is this what Fifth Disease looks like?

I've put pictures of it up on my blog, if you'd care to take a look and tell me it's something simple, like a sudden allergy to cotton... :rolleyes:

Any ideas what this may be? I do hate to call our ped. b/c he'll tell us to come on in (he is good about squeezing folks in - but that also means we'll leave there with strep, pink eye, the latest general crud, and heaven knows what else from the two-hour wait in the lobby).

Dy

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

It looks like sort of like hives to me in the picture. What did he eat for dinner?

Barb

[Jennifer in MI]

Is it raised at all? These are the symptoms my ds had when he had Fifth's Disease. The rash did spread all over his body and would come and go for about a week. It was worse when he was hot. It looked TERRIBLE, but never caused him to feel sick or anything. Your ds' rash looks like mine did.

You could try giving him some Benadryl and see if it goes away. If so, I'd think it's more likely an allergy. But, Fifth's Disease does have this weird way of going away and coming back. So, you might think the Benadryl is working when it's not. (If it's Fifth's Disease.)

I hope you figure it out!!

[DIY-DY]

It looks like sort of like hives to me in the picture. What did he eat for dinner?

Barb

Water to drink. Nothing out of the ordinary for us.

Aside from the one pimple (ah, welcome to the coming of hormones - but that's another freak-out for another time! LOL!), the rash is flat. More blotchy than raised. Aren't hives usually raised? Hives, I can handle. That would be cool. God bless Benadryl!

Thanks. :)

[DIY-DY]

Is it raised at all? These are the symptoms my ds had when he had Fifth's Disease. The rash did spread all over his body and would come and go for about a week. It was worse when he was hot. It looked TERRIBLE, but never caused him to feel sick or anything. Your ds' rash looks like mine did.

You could try giving him some Benadryl and see if it goes away. If so, I'd think it's more likely an allergy. But, Fifth's Disease does have this weird way of going away and coming back. So, you might think the Benadryl is working when it's not. (If it's Fifth's Disease.)

I hope you figure it out!!

A friend sent some info on Fifth Disease, and I've been reading up on it. Will keep going, and keep an eye on him. Thanks.

[Jennifer in MI]

One thing I remember from Dr. Sears and his writing on rashes is that they usually aren't something for which you need to call a doctor. The one thing that he says to get to a doctor for is if it doesn't blanch (I think that's the right word - when you press on it, it should turn skin color and then the rash should come back). If it doesn't (if it stays red when you press on it), then a call to the doctor is necessary.

[Rhonda in TX]

Has he been rubbing his face against anything?

I'd try Benadryl. I don't think the doctor would be concerned unless he was also running a fever. (but I'm no doctor!)

[Adrianne]

My doc usually says Benadryl and time. It is probably just a virus, even if he runs a fever.

Fifth's disease is a virus and is usually only treated symptomatically and in time it heals. So either way, you are okay.


Don't worry! Just give him plenty of rest, fluids, and best of all, the day off of school!!!

Adrianne

[Elisabeth in IL]

It looks very similar to the case of Fifths Disease that my friends son had. She was told he was only contagious before the rash appeared not afterward. Hope he feels well soon.

[nancypants]

My first guess is Fifths Disease (http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/fifth.html). They often call it "slapped cheeks" because the first place you tend to notice it is on the face and it looks like they've been slapped. It tends to migrate and come and go for several days before it goes away completely.

My four year old had it this Fall.

Edit: Sorry, I didn't read all the responses first!

[sdWTMer]

is it bad for Dy since she's pregnant? I thought that I had heard that before. :confused:

[DIY-DY]

is it bad for Dy since she's pregnant? I thought that I had heard that before. :confused:

The biggest concern for miscarriage is in the early portion of pregnancy, not this close to the end. Although I haven't been tested for anitbodies for it, it's my understanding that by the time we're adults, most of us have been exposed and are in the "safe zone" - but I will ask the mw when we see her again. Thanks for thinking of us! :)

[Mom2legomaniacs]

Another idea is scarlet fever from strep. It can manifest itself in various ways and without the typical strep like symptoms. Look it up too to keep in mind. Poor guy! Hope it's nothing but perhaps chapped cheeks.