What Is It?

Updated on January 26, 2009
M.M. asks from Tinley Park, IL
11 answers

My son has a rash on his body. It started a week ago and it is worse at some times that other times. The doctor diagnosed it as a virus but I think it could be a sudden food allergy that came on. It looks like hives and it appears on his stomach, neck, back, on his neck, scalp. He appears to be himself other that I have noticed him throing up/,ore like a big spit up. Any ideas of what this could be?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.

answers from Chicago on

Did he have a fever previous to the rash? My son had roseola when he was about 5 months old. It is a virus and clears up fairly quickly. It was a rash mostly on his tummy and back that came on a few days after an otherwise unexplained fever.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.A.

answers from Chicago on

Dear M

Looks like we have similar situation. My son(3) also has been throwing (especially after meal)..He had rashes on his mouth ,lips.. Sometimes the rashes are really red.. sometimes it looks like very dry skin..It started 10 days back..I thought it was food allergy ,started watching his diet..We went to his pediatrician last Saturday..She said it is VIRAL..(gave no medicine)..

Hope your son recovers soon.
Hugs

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Chicago on

I've had the same type of thing the last month or so with my 2 and 5 year olds. The 2 year old had hives that would come and go for about a week. The 5 year old would have a few hives or strange red blotches appear for a little while and then go away. This has been going on with my 5 year old for about a month, but is less often and drastic now. The dr talked about gettng my 5 year old allergy testing, but I declined since the 2 year old had a similar thing around the same time. What's the chance they'd both develop an allergy out of the blue. I did give them four days of benadryl at bedtime. I've heard that kids can have an allergic reaction to a virus they have had. Maybe talk with your dr about giving benadryl to try to get any histamines from an allergic reaction out of the system.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know exactly what your son might have because you don't have great detail of its appearance. But I just posted last week because my son (18mos) has had hives for the last 12 days. They started as small, random red bumps. Then they would disappear and show up in other places. As time progressed, they appeared more like welts, and sometimes even joining together to make like a band or ring-shape on his body. NOw they're back to being raised red bumps (almost like a bad mosquito bite). Fortunately, he does not appear to be itchy or uncomfortable either but the doctor has put him on antihistamines, because it is really difficult to pinpoint the cause unless it is one of the common offenders. He also said that it could have been a reaction to a virus that he had. Who knows?!?!? Anyway, I don't know if that is your son's problem, but that is our experience with hives. By the way, if you google HIVES, and hit the Images tab, you can see lots of variations of what hives look like. I did change him to rice milk too, so I'm wondering if that helped also. I'll reintroduce it after they are gone to determine if there is an allergy. The docs say it is hard to determine allergies at such a young age because their immune systems are not mature and test results are often incorrect...so trial and error is th best way to go. Good luck and I hope you figure it out soon!

Denise

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.B.

answers from Chicago on

He might be allergic to the shampoo you're using.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.K.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like a virus to me too. fifths disease can give a rash for months. Many viruses can give you rashes. Hives will appear all over and will go away if it food offender is not eaten every day. You can always check http://www.webmd.com/. I hope your son gets better soon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.P.

answers from Chicago on

If you really think that it is hives, he needs to have benadryal and you need to call your dr. to make sure it doesn't get any worse. Hives look like uneven-sized bumps - not a symmetrical rash. Yes, he could have developed a food allergy so you will need to think back on what he has eaten over the last few days and keep him on bland foods for a few days and see if anything changes. It is also important to get the "rash"diagnosed. In the event that it is not hives, you want to make sure that it is not anything contagious. Also note if you notice any unusual tiredness or very red lips that could indicate a possible allergic reaction.

Good luck.

D.M.

answers from Chicago on

Have you introduced any new foods? Did you recently vaccinate? Look at any new things you have introduced to him a few days before all the symptoms started. When do you notice him vomiting? Is it after he eats? His skin is telling you that his body is trying to eliminate something that does not agree w/ the body. Vomiting is another way of trying to get rid of something too.
I can help your son with Homeopathy. This will address all his symptoms & help him cure whatever is ailing him. I will also help you with trying to figure out the root cause of this rash too. Call the office at ###-###-####. I'm in Warrenville, off the I-88, Winfield exit, by the SuperTarget. I'm in the office Mon-Thurs & have availability this week.
Dr. A., ND

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.N.

answers from Chicago on

My oldest daughter (I have three) has severe food/environmental allergies; she is now six and her first reaction to food was at six months. If your son's rash is due to a food allergy, it will appear IMMEDIATELY after ingesting the allergy food. This rapid reaction usually makes it easy to figure out what food caused the reaction.

I've had a LOT of experience with hives and rashes, and it does sound like your son's rash is viral. My girls have each had colds at sometime or another that produce rashes at "the end" of the cold. It's like the cold/virus is making its exit from their little bodies. As a matter of fact, my 2 year old's last cold produced a nasty rash that was located mostly on her trunk area that came and went for a few days. It did not bother her, so I didn't let it bother me.

Also, if your son's rash is hives, they DO bother the child. When my allergy daughter has hive reactions, they are very itchy and uncomfortable. I would let this rash run its course.

Oh, the spitting up thing is also an area of my mommy expertise! My oldest vommitted nearly everyday for two years from her food allergies. Allergy foods in = allergy foods out. I've also experienced throwing up with my girls at young ages when they are congested; they have so much mucus draining to their tummies that they throw it up.

I hope this all helps you; good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Chicago on

I had a similar experience with a rash appearing on my son's back and neck and looked like it was spreading. Didn't seem to bother him, but I asked the doctor to look at it anyway. I was told it was a virus and to let them know if any other symptoms cropped up. None did and eventually it went away. I don't recall having any issues with my son throwing up, however. You might seek a second opinion, if you are worried it's been misdiagnosed.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Chicago on

This sounds exactly like what we are going through with our 13 month old daughter. She has had a rash on her back since mid-December. The doctor first told me it was a reaction to a virus as well. Here we are at the end of January and we still have it. I too thought it might be an allergy because she sometimes throws up (a small amount). I stopped formula and put her on soy yogurt and am trying soy milk but she does not care for it. Incidentally, my parents say I was the same way and whatever it was I grew out around a year. The rash, which is a little raised and sometimes red, is mainly on her back. I put hydrocortisone on it and then cover it with a very thick cream and that makes it better for a few days.

I think the other post was right on in that they are young and their systems will work themselves out.

Hope that helps.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions