9 month old son has a rash - advice please?

Question

I've already called NHS Direct and we're waiting on a call back from the doc.

My husband noticed this afternoon that our son has a rash on his torso. not on his arms and legs or face. it was a sort of brown colour when we noticed it but its getting a bot more red and the marks are starting to raise a little. he's not got a high temp. he has over the past couple of days had a cold and not been eating or sleeping well. I've done the glass press test and not all of the red marks disappear! he's not having problems looking at light and he's not sweaty. the nurse said it doesn't sound like he's got meningitis I was just wondering if anyone else's child has had this and what it was.

thanks

Answer 1

Actually, it sounds much more like a viral rash- and since he's got a cold, you already know he's got one kind of virus. Viral infections are infamous for causing them, more so in the younger set. They do typically break on the torso first, and can spread out from there. Since there's no fever, and he's otherwise okay, that is the most likely cause. Viral rashes typically run their course in about 10 days to 2 weeks, as the body fights off the virus. Little ones tend to take the longest, since they have "learner" immune systems to do the fighting. It's also not unusual in one that age to go off their feed when they have a cold, it's hard to eat and breath and snuffle all at the same time. Viral rashes don't really tend to bother them much either, in terms of itching or anything. You just keep trying to make sure they don't get hot and sweaty, as that can stimulate an itch. A nice soothing bath can be made with warm water and a handful of plain old oatmeal thrown in, if needed. Otherwise, your main concern is just to offer plenty of liquids and whatever foods you can tempt him to eat. Rashes in little ones are scary, but not often anything more serious than the splotchy look. Meningitis would come with a fever, and one very irritable baby- usually the cry changes as well, and they are just plain fussy and inconsolable, clingy and grumpy. Yours sounds like the usual viral rash, nothing more serious. It will run it's course, and go away. As long as he doesn't look otherwise ill, and doesn't act really ill, you can trust your gut instincts to judge that- he will do fine.

Answer 2

This sounds very similar to my daughter who was diagnosed with streptococall ( can't spell it!). Basically, my other two had tonsillitus and hers came out on her skin, not her tonsils.
I was terrified as I did the glass test and they didn't disappear and they rapidly turned from patchy to definite red raised blobs all over her.

Keep calm. If baby is alert and not got the other meningitis symptoms,(aversion to light, low moan or grizzle and neck pain) I suspect he is going to be okay after antibiotics.

If in doubt, get him to hospital - who cares if it's a waste of time? Better safe than sorry.

Answer 3

Sounds like 5th disease...but typically only older get this. Google 5th disease and see if this looks like what your child might have. In the mean time I would be talking on line I would be taking my child to the Dr. or a walk in clinic. Hope your baby feels better. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Hi chicken pox look like little fluid filled blisters, meningitis is a flat rash which you cannot feel, it also fades/dissapears under pressure.
Try not to worry its probably viral

Answer 5

Sounds like chicken pox! If it goes with the glass test, don't worry overmuch! He's not sensitive to light???

Answer 6

no srry, but u should rlly wait 4 ur doc 2 call bak if he hasnt already, it could b a type of allergic reaction

Answer 7

our daughter had similar problem, and it was reaction to bad tummy...
wait and see what Doctor says probably will ask you to come in.