There's no compromising when it comes to your child's health. Every parent has more or less faced the situation when their child has suffered from rashes. In the midnight, your child suddenly wakes up and complains that he/she is not feeling well. You see that your kid looks like as he's been in a naked paintball fight – red splotches everywhere. What do you do? You may think of calling the doctor or going to a hospital. What if, the doctoris not available or the telephone line is busy or the roads aren't
travelable to go to a hospital. Almost all children get high fevers some
time or other. Many will get a rash or two. Sometimes, even,
professionals can't make out which one is serious and which one is
routine. In this blog, I'll share with you some informations on
different types of rashes and how well you can diagnose them.
First, consider your general clues
Before getting into the rash specifics, first consider what you know and what you don't know. Ask yourself these two questions.
1. Does the child look sick? Forget the rash and fever for sometime and watch the child. If the child is lying down, not going out to play, he/she may be pretty sick. Get him/her to a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Has your child been exposed to a virus you know is going around? If you know how sick the other children are, this can make for an easier diagnosis.
Now, look at the Rash. Take a good look at the rashes. Ask yourself three questions,
1) Where is it?
2) Is it raised, flat or blistered?
3) Does it itch?
These three questions will tell you a lot of what you need to know. Then you can match up those clues with your knowledge of common childhood rashes. Here, are some clues to seven rashes.
Rash 1
Where is it? On the palms, on the soles of the feet, and/or in the mouth
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Blistered
Does it itch? No, It hurts.
Possible cause: Think virus – specifically coxsackie virus, otherwise called hand, foot and mouth disease. Viruses don't respond to antibiotics. Make your child drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Any fluids without caffeine will do.
Rash 2
Where is it? It began on the face and trunk and may have spread to the extremities.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? It started as raised bumps, but they'll get tiny blisters on top, then break and crust over. More bumps will develop, so you'll usually see all stages on the skin at once.
Does it itch? Yes, badly.
Possible cause: The chickenpox virus, which lasts a week to ten days. Treat the itching with diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cool compresses, or oatmeal baths.
Rash 3
Where is it? All over
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Raised. It's fine, red ash all over the body that feels a little like sandpaper.
Does it itch? A little
Possible cause: This is Scarlet fever. This is merely a strep infection with a rash. The symptoms are sore throat, but not always. That's because the strep infection can be on the skin, even in the urine. Treat with an antibiotic like amoxicillin, penicillin, or erythromcin. The child will start feeling better in 72 hours. The medicine should be taken for 10 days to prevent rheumatic fever.
Rash 4
Where is it? All over, random
Is it raised, flat or blistered? It consists of raised, red splotches
Does it itch? Usually
Possible cause: Allergic reaction. It could be even from the antibiotic. Stop the antibiotic and give diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Rash 5
Where is it? As soon as cold symptoms, such as mild fever, disappeared, the child's cheeks turned bright red. Next came a fine, red lacy rash over the body.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat
Does it itch? Sometimes
Possible cause: It is called slapped cheek disease. Official name is erythema infectiosum. This viral illness is usually mild. The child usually feels fine, so do nothing. The rash will go away in a few days.
Rash 6
Where is it? After a high fever that lasted two to five days, your child broke out all over in a pink rash.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat
Does it itch? No
Possible cause: This is Roseola. The rash will last a couple of days
Rash 7
Where is it? It can be anywhere on the body, but there will be more than just one or two splotches.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat. It looks like tiny blood blisters or red splotches underneath the skin. If you press on them, they don't blanch or fade.
Does it itch? No.
Possible cause: This is Petechiae. Those blood blisters or red splotches are actually blood that has leaked out of the child's tiniest blood vessels (capillaries). They can be a sign of serious disease like meningitis or sepsis. If this is the case, seek medical help at the earliest. One exception is if the child has been vomiting but looks pretty good otherwise. The strain of vomiting can cause the capillaries to bleed around the mouth. But the petechiae won't be on the rest of the body.
First, consider your general clues
Before getting into the rash specifics, first consider what you know and what you don't know. Ask yourself these two questions.
1. Does the child look sick? Forget the rash and fever for sometime and watch the child. If the child is lying down, not going out to play, he/she may be pretty sick. Get him/her to a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Has your child been exposed to a virus you know is going around? If you know how sick the other children are, this can make for an easier diagnosis.
Now, look at the Rash. Take a good look at the rashes. Ask yourself three questions,
1) Where is it?
2) Is it raised, flat or blistered?
3) Does it itch?
These three questions will tell you a lot of what you need to know. Then you can match up those clues with your knowledge of common childhood rashes. Here, are some clues to seven rashes.
Rash 1
Where is it? On the palms, on the soles of the feet, and/or in the mouth
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Blistered
Does it itch? No, It hurts.
Possible cause: Think virus – specifically coxsackie virus, otherwise called hand, foot and mouth disease. Viruses don't respond to antibiotics. Make your child drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Any fluids without caffeine will do.
Rash 2
Where is it? It began on the face and trunk and may have spread to the extremities.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? It started as raised bumps, but they'll get tiny blisters on top, then break and crust over. More bumps will develop, so you'll usually see all stages on the skin at once.
Does it itch? Yes, badly.
Possible cause: The chickenpox virus, which lasts a week to ten days. Treat the itching with diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cool compresses, or oatmeal baths.
Rash 3
Where is it? All over
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Raised. It's fine, red ash all over the body that feels a little like sandpaper.
Does it itch? A little
Possible cause: This is Scarlet fever. This is merely a strep infection with a rash. The symptoms are sore throat, but not always. That's because the strep infection can be on the skin, even in the urine. Treat with an antibiotic like amoxicillin, penicillin, or erythromcin. The child will start feeling better in 72 hours. The medicine should be taken for 10 days to prevent rheumatic fever.
Rash 4
Where is it? All over, random
Is it raised, flat or blistered? It consists of raised, red splotches
Does it itch? Usually
Possible cause: Allergic reaction. It could be even from the antibiotic. Stop the antibiotic and give diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Rash 5
Where is it? As soon as cold symptoms, such as mild fever, disappeared, the child's cheeks turned bright red. Next came a fine, red lacy rash over the body.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat
Does it itch? Sometimes
Possible cause: It is called slapped cheek disease. Official name is erythema infectiosum. This viral illness is usually mild. The child usually feels fine, so do nothing. The rash will go away in a few days.
Rash 6
Where is it? After a high fever that lasted two to five days, your child broke out all over in a pink rash.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat
Does it itch? No
Possible cause: This is Roseola. The rash will last a couple of days
Rash 7
Where is it? It can be anywhere on the body, but there will be more than just one or two splotches.
Is it raised, flat or blistered? Flat. It looks like tiny blood blisters or red splotches underneath the skin. If you press on them, they don't blanch or fade.
Does it itch? No.
Possible cause: This is Petechiae. Those blood blisters or red splotches are actually blood that has leaked out of the child's tiniest blood vessels (capillaries). They can be a sign of serious disease like meningitis or sepsis. If this is the case, seek medical help at the earliest. One exception is if the child has been vomiting but looks pretty good otherwise. The strain of vomiting can cause the capillaries to bleed around the mouth. But the petechiae won't be on the rest of the body.
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