Horrible Ugly Rash All over Body

Updated on June 04, 2008
A.M. asks from Saint Louis, MO
28 answers

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!

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

B.B.

answers from Kansas City on

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.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from St. Louis on

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.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Wichita on

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)

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Wichita on

Is the rash pinkish-red, semi raised? is her tongue white? This sounds exactly like what my son had - and it turned out to be strep. I thought the doctor was crazy because he didn't have a sore throat, but I looked it up and that's what it was. I guess you can have strep without the typical symptoms. It went away within a day or so of starting the antibiotic. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Sounds like what my daughter had when she had strep throat.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I would also take her in again. If it is hard to get into your doctor, you could take her to the nearest Walgreens or CVS pharmacy. They now have clinics inside that are first come first serve and you can get your prescription right then if you need one. They charge your insurance just like your doctor would (at least Walgreens does, I have heard that CVS bills a little differently) so it is not as expensive as the ER or urgent care. We have never had a problem getting in and they can usually see you pretty quickly. Also, in this case, a second oppinion wouldn't hurt.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from St. Louis on

I had the same thing (rash and fever) and so did my sister. We both went to the doctor and they also told us that it was a virus. We had joint pain along with the rash. I did some research online and thought that it might be "Fifth Disease". My nephew started to display some symptoms also but he had the red cheek appearance (which is one of the signs of Fifth Disease)but myself and my son did not have the red cheeks. The rash only hung around a couple of days but I had the joint pain for almost a week. It is very contagious. My son eventually got the symptoms too. With a virus there was no medicine to take (you just have to let it run it's course), you could just take medicine to relieve the symptoms (Motrin for the baby to help with the joint pain).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.Y.

answers from Topeka on

Does she seem uncomfortable? It sounds like Roseola to me. If it is Roseola, have no fear, it's not a big deal. The rash will be gone in no time. My son had it and the worst part was the preceeding fever. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Topeka on

My son did the same thing about 2 weeks ago. We alternated tylenol and motrin and the rash went away in a few days. I also gave him a dose of benadryl for good measure, lol.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.D.

answers from Kansas City on

It could be strep. They can break out in a strep rash and run a fever.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.A.

answers from Wichita on

Ask your doctor about 5th's disease.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.C.

answers from Kansas City on

It defintely sounds like Roseola. My son who is one just had it last month and my daughter who is 3 had it at about 8 months. They have a fever of 103-105 (my kids both had 105) for about 2-3 days and then it goes away and within 1-2 days the crazy looking rash appears! Then it just goes away. My Dr. also told me that most kids get it and like other people said, once they get it they will never get it again. I think they are only contagious when they have the fever but it may take a few days for the virus to show up in your other baby. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Topeka on

My sis has 3 kid's one is a twin he develpoed splotches all over his back and front she thought after talking with her an allergic reaction to bug spray,but no fever nothing else but the rash the next it was worse she took him in they told her it was a virus,not foot and mouth disease or anything else.They put him on allergy medication Zyrtec since it is more stonger than Benadryl.I deffinently would call the DR. if you have take her back in to make sure then I would.There is so much around who know's what it could be.But yes after the fever breaks alot of children get a rash roseola.
sahm of 2 kiddos and they enjoy me being home as so do I

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from St. Louis on

My 3 year old son is just now recovering from the same thing. He started with a fever of 103. The next day he started with a rash on his back, belly, face and neck. The rash lasted for more than a week. The doctor said it was just a virus. It got worse before it got better. The rash is finally gone and he seems fine. Our friends 3 year old also had the same thing. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Lafayette on

That sounds bad, allergic reaction would be my first thought, and a pretty severe one. Would definitely take her to the doctor if not ER.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from St. Louis on

A.-

Hello, my son gets this alot!! the first time his fever spiked to 103 and I took him to Childrens Hospital (bc it was sat and dr said to) we were there for about 4 hours until they said its a strain of virus that once the virus is almost gone is causes a rash! Well, we went back home and the rash was slowly going away after about a day. Then it happend again but with no fever..I gave him a bath in Cornstarch and put calamine (sp) lotion all over his body and gave him bendryl (Sp) and the next morning they were gone. My son gets this rash alot(weekley)and the docs just say its a virus! It may be a alergic reation..but they say that to be something they are alergic to it has to be ALL over the body including hands and feet. well I hope I helped you in someway! Let me know how it went a the doctors office. Curious to hear what your doc says it is.
Good Luck!

S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Has she taken any medication like Tylenol? I would be concerned about a reaction to a medication. I had this myself a few years ago and ended up out of work for two months and in the hospital a couple times. Try googling "drug hypersensitivity." Good luck. I hope she gets better soon.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My oldest daughter experienced a virus like that. Our doctor said it was roseola. She had very high fevers for several days and then the rash came. There really wasn't anything they could at that point,except give her a little bit of benadryl for the itchiness. And sometimes when my children are running high fevers from whatever virus they get a rash.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from St. Louis on

i would call the docs after hours number, or the emergency room. i am a first time mom-so i might be a too cautious, but i rather be safe than sorry.

hope it is nothing :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree...roseola. Look it up on the internet...the Mayo Clinic has a great site all about it. My niece just had it this past weekend. Exact same sypmtoms.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.G.

answers from Columbia on

My youngest son went through something similar last year. One day he had a fever, a little coughing, but not much, and then his body broke out in a rash. The rash covered his stomach and his back, but never went to his limbs. His rash looked like little red circles and you could feel it. I talked to my doctor, who told me it could just be heat rash, which I didn't believe since he had not been hot. He then told me that when children are that young a rash like this is sometimes just one of the symptoms of having something viral. I was also told that if the rash did spread to the limbs then it could be a symptom of strep throat. Thankfully it never did. I don't know if this is like what your daughter is dealing with, but I hope it helped. Hope things get better.
N.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Wichita on

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

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Columbia on

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.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Wichita on

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!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from St. Louis on

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!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.G.

answers from St. Louis on

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!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.I.

answers from St. Louis on

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.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.F.

answers from St. Joseph on

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.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches