28 answers

Horrible Ugly Rash All over Body

My daughter, 8 months, had a high fever starting on SUnday, it was 103. Before that she had really loose bowels. The fever went down yesterday, but a horrible rash showed up all over her head and down her torso - front and back. It was not on her limbs. I took her to the doctor and they said it was probably a virus. But today she woke up and it was worse. Almost every inch was covered on her back and her head. i noticed just a few spots on her hands- which the nurse practioners were looking for. But it is not on her feet (yet). It that cause for alarm? i am waiting to call the doc's office when they open- but she seems fine otherwise and does not have the fever. Any comments? She has a twin and the twin has not caught the "virus" yet, so i am wondering what it could be. I don't think it's food allergy or dtergent.Thanks!

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Did you recently give her an anitbiotic? My son would break out like that after being treated by sulfer based antibiotics. We found out it was an alergic reaction. It could also be from a new laundry detergent, or soap or something.

There is a childhood disease - maybe fifth disease or could be roseola- where an unexplained fever is followed by a rash. When the rash shows up it is actually over. G.

Hi A.,
My little guy has the same thing right now. It started with a high fever for about 2 days, then a red, bumpy rash (sandpaper-like quality) started spreading over his body - now he has a couple of blisters on the bottoms of his feet and a few spots around his mouth. The doctor said it is a virus called Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease. I called my son's daycare to tell them about it and they said, "yeah, it's been going around in his classroom." It's highly contagious, but it doesn't affect adults the same way it affects children. Adults don't usually get the symptoms, but they can still infect other people. Anyway, it sounds just like what you describe and I know it's going around Wichita right now. Treat with ibuprofen or acetaminophen for discomfort. Good luck! -S., mother of Luke (16 months)

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Has your Doctor ruled out "hand foot and mouth"? I had a doctor tell me my son had a double ear infection and then I took him to his doctor (I was in Emergency Care as it was the weekend) and she told me that his ears were just fine, it was hand foot and mouth and there really wasn't too much to do except to try and make him as comfortable as possible. Hope this helps a little.

As the others have said, it sounds to me like Roseola. It's just a virus....don't get scared if you read something about herpies online. It's something way different than adults get. There are hundered types of herpies strains.

Roseola is a virus that most kids get by the time they are 5 and once they've had it, they never get it again.

When my daughter was about that age, she had the same thing-high fever, then rash all over body. The doctor said it was roseola, which just meant a rash after a high fever. The rash itself wasn't contagious, but whatever caused the fever could have been. The actual rash was harmless, and went away in a couple of days. I'm not sure about the part of it going to her hands, it might be worth a phone call to the doctor just to let them know. Good luck!

I am surprised that the doctor didn't do a strep test and just told you it was a virus. Usually when kiddos have that high of a fever with a really bad rash it is strep. Good luck and I hope that she feels better soon!

There is a childhood disease - maybe fifth disease or could be roseola- where an unexplained fever is followed by a rash. When the rash shows up it is actually over. G.

Who knows? All I can say is it could be serious. If the doctor isnt taking it seriously, I would get another opinion. This is your child for goodness sakes! Make sure the doctor knows you mean business and you want some answers and you want them now!!

It sounds to me as if you are describing roseola. My daughter had it. The fever and sickness comes first. When the virus leaves the body, they get that awful rash. It is contagious so your other baby will probably get it. It is nothing to be too alarmed about.

To me it sounds like fifth Disease. I live in Kansas and I know it is going around here.

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