Hi there
My 5 year old developed a strange rash when we were on vacation in Florida. On Friday I noticed that the outside of his left ear felt kind of rough and was red. I didn't think anything of it, basically I thought I hadn't suncreened well enough. The next day he developed a rash on his belly that has now spread all over his body. The rash looks similar to a rubella rash, however, he is vaccinated against rubella. In addition, now his right ear is red and swollen too. Also his face is blotchy red and it seems a bit swollen too. He didn't eat anything unusual but he did get some bug bites.
He is in good spirits, laughing and playing as normal and he doesn't have a fever or anything. Last night while falling asleep he seemed a bit itchy.
Has anyone seen these symptoms before?
PS: I'll go to the doctor tomorrow and am just looking for some information and hopefully some peace of mind till then.
Poison Ivy? THAT is itchy, bumpy and kind of rough. It can spread easily... Also, it doesn't really effect someone in any other way than their skin, so since he's in good spirits maybe it was that?
If there is dry texture to the rash especially on the belly like sand paper it could be Scarlette fever, which is strepp with a rash. If your son is like mine I never know he has a sore throat or strepp as he never has afever or complains about the pain. Monday is almost here just makesure he doesn't scratch himself too much
Too little info to be sure, Fifth's Disease?? (Sounds scary but no biggie.) There are a couple of illnesses that can cause this including poison ivy or oak and contact dermatitis.
Since you were on vacation when it started there are too many variables. Did you use new soaps or shampoos? Did you use a sunscreen you had not used before? Did you get any of your clothes washed or dry cleaned?? There could even have been something on the hotel sheets... (or wherever you stayed).
If he is not running a fever and is not miserably uncomfortable the doctor will probably give you something hydrocortisone based to clear it up.....
Sounds like an allergic reaction to a bug bite. I'd give benadryl and apply hydrocortisone to the rash a few times a day. We just got back from the beach and my son developed a terrible rash that was rough like sandpaper. I took him to ped and she said allergic rash and said to put hydrocortisone on 3x a day. The rash was gone in less than 2 days.
I would get a 72 hr strep culture (have them do both the rapid and the culture!!) just to be absolutely sure. Strep does not always come with a sore throat.
Also, if you were swimming in the ocean, it could be something that he reacted to while swimming. Definitely mention it to the dr if so.
vaccines are not 100% effective and if it is rubella it isnt dangerous. Most likely its a bug bite reaction. Id have him checked out just in case
does he seem to be itching? It could be a heat rash, or rash from too much sun. without seeing rashes, it is really difficult to determine what they are. It is good that there is no fever, so it most likely isn't measles, or chicken pox.
the doctor is your best bet!
Sounds like eczema. The dr will probably give you some steroid cream and an antibiotic.
My daughter was 6 when she woke up one morning covered with an itchy rash such as you described. I assumed it was chicken pox and took her to the doctor because it was everywhere. He assumed the same thing. He told me to get her home and put a baking soda paste on her and give her some benadryl and ride it out.
The next morning.....there wasn't a single mark on her. Nothing. Zero.
It was hives.
We never did find out what caused it. She got it a couple weeks later and the same thing happened. It was gone by morning.
Then another time, she got hives when we went camping and it was really hot. Much warmer than we are used to.
She had no food allergies or anything, something just irritated her.
Giving her benadryl worked like a charm, though.
Let us know what the doctor says.
Best wishes!
Was he on a beach (sun poisining) or in a pool (chlorine?) Did you stay at a hotel with towels that they put out (possible detergent allergy), eat anything very different? Sounds good that he is doing so well so it would be interesting to hear what doctor says.
Yes, take him to the doctor!! However, just to let you know....being vaccinated against rubella doesn't necessarily garantee that he wont get it....if he does however, it wont be as severe.
Thank you all for your input. I was really relieved that no-one thought it was something too serious. I went to the doctor with him today and she couldn’t really pinpoint it either. The rash itself looked like scarlette fever, but because he didn’t have a fever or any other symptoms she thinks it’s more likely a sun rash. I’ll make sure that I moisturize well, keep putting tons of sunscreen on him and hopefully the rash will be gone in a few days.