Odd Rash

You definitely need to get to a Dr. There are a few different things that can cause rashes like that....one being the fifth, and there is also rosiola. You especially need to be careful being pregnant. If it is something worse than what the Dr said, it could be transferred to the the fetus, and be deadly. So hopefully you get a second opinion.

Sounds like it might be viral...I know Coxackie virus which is a common summer virus causes rashes and aches and pain...ear infection maybe a secondary bacterial infection, might be unrelated...but ear pain does not always mean infection....kids usually have the antibodies they need to fight off such things....unless there's a HUGE fever for DAYS, I'd probably just give them extra fluids (especially popsicles!) and tylenol/motrin for pain...Good Luck! If YOU get it while pregnant, that's different, would call the OB right away!

DEFINITELY take them to another Doctor, Urgent care, Dermatologist, or the ER asap.

Hello, Have they all had their measles shots? When I was about 30, I came down with the measles and it caused a rash all over as well as aching so badly. I felt miserable. Just curious.
Good luck with your precious family.
K. K.

Go to the ER.
Often ER Doctors have a different line of thinking... and ideas about medical issues.

Your Doctor, should refer you to a Specialist or something.
It is yet undiagnosed... and untreated.
All guesswork.

You definitely need a different set of eyes to assess all of you, but I'm not sure that an ER doctor is the best option for many reasons.

I'd lean towards dermatology because it affects the skin. However, derms are REALLY hard to get into unless it's emergent, and this appears to be.

If you have a family physician that you go to for your own primary care needs, I'd call them. I'd also call your OB and see what they think.

I went to my OB 7 weeks postpartum with an issue. He was "not really concerned". My gut told me to press with my family physician who ordered an ultrasound, blood work and a biopsy. I'm glad I listened to my gut because I was diagnosed with cancer 4 weeks later. I'm not trying to scare you - just to say, it's always good to get different opinions - ESPECIALLY since it's worsening.

I hope you are all well and recovered soon.

Is fever involved?

If there's any way to get a second opinion, I'd certainly go for one, and possibly check for scarlet fever which needs to be treated with penicillin in order to avoid possible complications down the road. Measles is another possibility--sure sounds like what happened to me when I was a child, before the age of vaccinations.

Hope everyone (including your unborn baby) is in perfect health very soon!

Pretty sure the doc would have caught this but did he consider Fifth Disease? Only thought about it because it just went around my son's preschool. Rash is worse on the face/cheek area but can be all over the body. It is really contagious in the kids (school was closed for a day to clean/sanitize) and this is what I found on the internet

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083500.asp

Bright red cheeks with pale skin around the mouth.
A red lacy or bumpy rash can occur on the chest, abdomen, and back, which can then spread to the extremities. It can be itchy.
This face and body rash can fluctuate from better to worse with temperature and weather changes. Sunlight exposure can make the rash flare up.
This rash can sometimes come and go for several months.
Fever is present in 25% of cases.
Mild cold symptoms may occur.
Some people will experience headache, body aches, and muscle aches.
Some cases will have general aches and fever, which resolve, then have the rash break out 1 – 3 weeks later.
Some children will only have a rash, with no other symptoms or fever.
Adults, especially women, may experience joint pain and swelling.
Some cases can come and then resolve without anyone even detecting it

I would call the docs office and ask about this just in case. Especially since you are pregnant. Good luck!

My son had a similar situation. We went to see the ped and he treated it the same way assuming it was a reaction to an allergen. He told me to come back if the symptoms didn't go away right away. We were back 2 days later with exactly what you are saying. The doc immediately diagnosed it as Roseola....i'm sure that's spelled wrong!! It's very contagious so if any of your kids are in child care or play groups it's possible. Whatever it is don't stop until somebody is able to tell you what's going on. If your doc isn't listening or you are questioning the doc's diagnosis see another doc. It can't hurt to have another set of eyes on any situation. Good ped's misdiagnose all the time. Our doc is the best there ever was and he missed it the first visit. He knew when we came back that I was frightened for my son and needed to know what was happening. He said that the first diagnosis was incorrect and he was really glad I came back. It's a difficult bug to diagnose because it does seem like an allergic reaction or an ear infection that's caused a rash because of fever. It's almost always missed the first time. He should have realized something is up when all 3 of your kids had ear symptoms.

Go to another doctor! Get another opinion! Or demand more answers from your doc. Good luck!

Get a referral to a dermatologist (I don't know if there are ones that specialize with babies....) as soon as possible. Alternatively, going to a pediatrician affiliated with a university teaching hospital might give you someone who has a broader experience than your local ped.

I would check with an infectious disease doctor --

You have your hands full! I would ask about Fifth Disease...I know it's going around. And since you're pregnant you should definitely talk to your OB since it has effects on the baby.

Good luck!
-M

can't believe that the doc didn't test for strep - it's sounds like scarlet fever to me.

Hi K.,

I agree with Theresa. I'd call my OB now. He may even know what is going around that the pediatrician is unaware of, especially if it's dangerous for your unborn little one. It does sound viral and there's not much you can do about that except try to build the immune system to fight it off. Rest and fluids are good. Elderberry syrup is fine for kids and your little one and will strengthen the immune system. It doesn't hurt that it tastes good too...

Ear infections are not "typically" contagious but whatever bacteria may have caused them can be contagious....one drop of high grade tea tree oil (melaleuca alternafolia oil) in a teaspoon of olive oil can be warmed and one drop of that solution can be put in the ear for not only comfort but healing. The tea tree oil is an antibacterial as well as an anti fungal and anti viral.

I would also suggest chiropractic care. Specifically, upper cervical chiropractors have had much success with not only ear infections but anything that the body needs to fight off. I was able to dodge ear tubes with my oldest when she was little. They may also know what is going around too. If you don't know one, go to ucspine.com and find one in your area. Call and interview them. They rarely charge for a consultation.

God bless and hope your little ones are better soon!

M.

You might want to check with a naturopathic doctor.

Do NOT get any vaccines when someone is sick and do NOT use Tylenol in any case as it puts the immune system on hold for up to 21 days and you don't want that when you are sick or getting shots. Also, not to mention the liver damage...

You need to talk with your OB and go see another doctor. Boost everyone's immune system with Vitamin D3 NOW. You can take, easily, up to 10,000 mg a day and the children should be doing 3,000 mg to 10,000 mg as well, for at least a week. If you want articles, sites, talking about this just give me a shout.

Omega 3 - are you taking a good one as well as the children.

Vitamin C - start pumping that throughout the day. I would do 2,000 mg three times a day for myself and 250-500 mg for each of the kids three times a day.

No sugar. No processed foods. No fast foods. These will all weaken the immune system.

Remove ALL dairy/casein from the diets. Do not switch to soy but to an almond or rice or even hemp milks. Daiya makes a great cheese alternative. For baby formula, check out www.neocate.com

Wow on the age differences of your children and another on the way. You go girl! Just nurse each one as long as you can and get The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears. You can go to his website anytime as well. www.thevaccinebook.com

Steriods are not the best thing to be doing first. And ear infections can be infectious. It is bacterial and bacteria spreads.

if it is contagious you will get it too. my question is do they have knots behind thier ears. have they had chicken pox vaccines. chicken pox all of them will get it you won't if you have already had it and supposedly chicken pox is going around. I don't know if the chicken pox will make thier ears hurt mine was 2 when he got it. most likely they have had chicken pox vaccines and it is not chicken pox. if it is chicken pox they wont need that vaccine. no tylenol in case it is chicken pox. at all none. but go to the doc to make sure. I haven't heard of chicken pox since the vaccine has come out until recently but the tale tale sign of chicken pox is knots behind the ears. Good luck and get to the doc.

Does the rash "move" around on the body? My daughter had a really bad rash that looked like hives and moved around on her body, and she was very very sore. The docs kept telling us it was allergies, but we kept taking her back to the clinic everyday, then they said strep, ear infection, finally they noticed swelling in her lymph nodes, and she was sent to a pediatric arthritis specialist. I wish i could remember what her condition was called but the name was weird. Anyways it goes away on its own in about 2 weeks but the swelling causes all the pain and if this is what they have they can help you manage it for them while they have it. So get there lymph nodes and joints checked.