HELP! - Strange Rash on Son

I'm at home today with my 4-year old son with the same thing - we believe it's Chicken Pox. My son was also vaccinated. Kids can still get it - but it should be a much milder case. I'm waiting to call my doctor for specific instructions, but I think it means he's out of school and all other activities for a week! Ugh. Good luck!

Hi C.
Does not sound like chicken pox to me. But let the MD diagnose. Sounds like 5th disease or allergy rash from detergent. Either way best to let MD see it and decide.
Always when in doubt call the MD.
K. SAHM married 38 years -- adult children 37,33, and twins 18.

C.,
Any time your child has a rash that spreads you should take him to the Dr. There are so many things it could be and Dr can hopefully identify it and treat it.
M.

First and foremost - GO TO THE DOCTOR!
Second - if your son goes into wooded areas this may be something known as "chiggers" which are little bugs that in-bed in your skin and look like chicken pox. www.bugsaway.com/redbug.htm
Good luck!

check into bed bugs and do it right away. If you have them, your son is fine but it's a pain in the $#@ for you. Good luck!

Hi C.,
Yes, children who are vaccinated can occasionally get chicken pox. Bed bug bites also look like the CP rash. I would take him into the doctor to find out for sure just what it is. Good luck!

My 6 year old son had a similar sounding rash a couple of weeks ago. It was folliculitis. He had been splashing in puddles and we think that is how he got it. He took a 10 day course of antibiotics and 3 days of steroids to get rid of it. He was also tested for strep and it came back negative.

I just saw a news story on how bed bugs have become a problem everywhere now...I'd take him to the doctor.

Well if you are counting on the vaccine guess again. My daughter was vaccinated 2 weeks before my older sons 5 birthday. We had what seemed like the whole class over for a great birthday party and just as the last children left my daughter was covered! My sons whole class came down with chicken Pox's 12 days later! Then her first day of school she woke up with a rash, being the youngest of 3 she was so excited to attend school, we sent her. Come to find out it was shingles. Then a couple of years ago she wasn't feeling well, fever, headache, and then another case of chicken pox! I gave up!
L.

"Fifths Disease" is going around and that usually has a rash. Also there has been cases of children getting the chicken pox even having the vacine. I would suggest a doctors visit. Just in case you haven't heard of fifths disease it is a virus that is a royal pain in the neck but not as bad as the name sounds so don't panic! A.

There are some rashes that affect boys and not girls, particularly if they've had a recent virus. In my experience, most doctors will not diagnose a rash without seeing it in person. My son had a rare one that the doctor sees only once a year. I'd schedule an appointment pronto!

strip your sons beds...check around all the corners of the mattress and boxspring...they could be bedbug bites...

It sounds just like what my son had even worse when he was your son's age (he's 27 now.) He had all his vaccinations. I took him to the pediatrician. I remember her saying that we had to be like detectives, noticing that all the red spots were everywhere except inside his underpants, which suggested to her the spots were insect bites, and that whatever was biting him couldn't get under the snug elastic waistband of his underpants, nor snug leg openings. In my son's case, it was determined that as it was the hot summertime, and he had been playing outdoors, and rolling in the grass, only in his shorts, tiny mite insects were biting him. As soon as this activity was stopped the 'rash' cleared up. Maybe this is a possibilty in your son's case? It could even be microscopic house dust mite, like from maybe playing on the carpeting? Hope this helps!

i would take him to dr. did he have a high fever prior with no real other symptoms for a few days b4. if so, then the rash may be just fine. it means it's the end of the virus, but i don't recall which one it is.

My two year old is dealing with the same thing for the past two days! It is hives! The doc prescribed prednesone and Benadryl. I am going to take him to the allergist to get him tested on Monday. If you do take him to the allergist, he has to be off Benadryl for atleast 48 hours. Good luck!

Do you have a pet? My sister came visiting & had a bunch of those all over her body. It turns out my indoor cat had somehow gotten fleas!!!

Hi, C..

Boy does this sound familar. It sounds like your son is allergic to something. Have you recently changed detergent, soap, cleaning products, or his diet? If you have cornstarch handy, it will help with any discomfort that your son is experiencing. The doctor recommended Eucerin when I went through it when my daughter was two weeks old. However, if it does not work immediately, I suggest asking the doctor for a prescription. If your son has been vaccinated for Chicken pox, chances are he does not have it. Chicken pox develope into a pussy bubble like bump within a short amount of time after they appear.

Best of luck trying to determine what your son is allergic to. It's not an easy process.

S. D

I would take your son to the doctor immediately. My niece had a rash that started by looking like little bug bites. It turned out to be a staph infection and she was in the hospital for three days. Hopefully, your son is just have a bout of sensitive skin.
-T.

It sounds like molloscum. Contagious but not serious. Some doctors don't treat it, it's a virus that will eventually go away. It will probably spread to your other kids. Best not to bathe them together. We have it and it's been really bad at school b/c of some uninformed parents. Good luck