Measles / Benedryl

Measles is hugely scary. Not for kids your son's age (he's "prime health" category), as long as you keep the fever down he probably won't go blind, suffer brain damage, or die (the 3 most common side effects from getting measles). But for infants, young children, the elderly and ANYONE on immune suppressing drug or with compromised immune systems (cancer patients, anyone who has ever had a transplant, etc.)... those "big three" are common, as of course, the many many miscarriages and birth defects caused by it when pregnant women are exposed.

IF he has measles, he needs to be in an isolation area in the hospital, or in isolation at home (depending on what his doctors recommend), as does the rest of your family, and EVERY person he's had contact with in the past 10 days needs to be notified by public health. Otherwise he, and you, can be at risk for the deaths caused, and lives ruined, by his exposing others. It's like knowingly infecting people with AIDs, but worse, because so many will die in 20 days, instead of in 20 years. You DON'T play with measles.

He needs to IMMEDIATELY be seen if you suspect measles. Now.

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If he has measles, Benedryl will not help. The rash is his body getting rid of toxins. It is not caused by a histamine. Benedryl is an antihistamine.

Measles can be serious. At 14, it's possible that the infection could cause sterility. There are different types of measles; some more serious than others. I'd call the doctor to see if he should be seen. The doctor may not want him to come in because measles are very contagious.

If it's measles, he will have a fever and be congested. You didn't mention those symptoms.

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Measles? What makes you think it is measles? That can be very dangerous. You need to get him to the doc to get it diagnosed and know how to treat what is going on. Yikes! Good luck!

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It could be hives and they are H**L on Earth to deal with. Benedryl liquid is the treatment of choice. If it is hives it can take up to 2 weeks for them to go away. And other than Benedryl liquid or Clariton (generic is fine) there really is nothing that helps. Baking soda baths help as long as you are in the tub and maybe a few minutes after. Watch his breathing carefully if it is hives they can form in the throat and then it's anaphylactic shock. If that happens call 911 -- do not try to get to an ER by yourself unless you live across the street.

Good luck with this.

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if it is measles you need to take him to the doctor ASAP. and do not let him around any child that is too young to have gotten both rounds of the MMR (under 5), it can be deadly to young children, especially babies.

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Why don't you take him to the Doctor or Urgent Care Center or the ER?

You cannot "diagnose" him.... without a Doctor looking at him.

Don't give him medication willy-nilly, when you don't know what is wrong.

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Has your son been diagnosed with Measles?
That needs to be looked at by a doctor, Measles are more serious than a rash and need more medical attention then over the counter medicine.

It is HIGHLY contagious.
It will give fevers and runny noses, can give sneezing and coughing.
The saliva and mucus from coughing and sneezing is what spreads the measles.

Please call your pediatrician if you think this is measles. But by that age your son should have ALREADY had the MMR vaccine (measles mumps and rubella) and be pretty protected from getting any of those.

As others have now said, you need to take it more seriously if he has not been immunized for the measles. He can make other people deathly ill, he could die himself, he could become sterile.
I hope you will update us.

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If it is measles...you wont need a vaccine for it...he will be immune. Yeah, call your doc. I'm not sure about the benadryl.

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Call your doctor/pediatrician immediately and get professional advice attention!

Call a doctor and if it's measles I wouldn't think he should go in the waiting room anywhere, but in a back door or something as they are very contagious. I would not use anything on the rash until you know what it is. I don't know why you think it would be measles but you should get it checked out soon.

First see a dr. for a proper diagnosis.
Second, use some clear calaymine (sp?) lotion. You can also use Caladryl lotion, but not at the same time as Benedryl because it contains the same stuff.