Spotty Red Rash All over My 2 Year Old

The first thing that comes to mind is a rash associated with a virus. My 9 month old had hand/foot/mouth disease and the first symptom was the fever followed 2 days later by a rash that was barely visible on the hands and feet, mostly prevalent everywhere else. In fact, he looked like he had the measles. Upon looking in his mouth, he had 2 very small ulcers on the back of his throat but these didn't show up until 4 days after the fever started. There is nothing to do for these poor little ones when they get this other than fluids and some tylenol. His lasted an entire week but some cases are less severe.
Good luck.
D.

Hi, My son just had Roseola and it was exactly the same. The rash isn't bad and he will clear up in a few days. You have already gotten through the hardest part. The rash will move from his trunk to his extremities then will disappear as quick as it came. I have heard of cases where it lasted a week to 2 weeks but everyone I have talked to said a few days and my son was no exception.
It is pretty scary looking but he will be up playing like there is nothing wrong probably by today or tomorrow at the latest.
Good Luck!

Has he had a fever in the last few days? It could be roseola. The spots look like tiny red pinpricks all over. My son had it last week. It's very common in children ages 9 mo to 2 yrs It's associated with 2 different viruses. Generally there are a couple of days of fever, followed by a rash. It starts on the torso, and moves outward onto the arms, legs and face. It looks bad, but it doesn't itch. The rash usually is gone in several days (my son's was really bad, but it was gone in about 4 days).

You can check out this link, it helped me to diagnose my son, and saved me a trip to the doctors office.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/roseola/DS00452

If it looks like a prickly heat rash it could be viral... watch for a fever in the next day or two. It probably just needs to run its course.

That sounds like virus hives. My son gets them when he is getting over a virus like a cold or stomach bug. Sometimes there isn't any other symptom besides them. Give him Benedryl to help with the itching and helping his body counteract itself with antihistamines. Let him be more restful for a few days until they clear up. My husband use to get them when he was young too. It is common to have hive like rashes with or after a virus according to our doctor, it is just you never hear about until it happens in your house.

S.-

It might be Fifths Disease. It is a very common virus for children and all three of my kids have had it. Generally they are not uncomfortable. They usually run a very low grade fever a few days before the rash shows up and then feel fine during the rash portion. They are also contagious before the rash shows up but not once the rash appears. I always take my kids to the doctor just to rule out other things but there is nothing to do -- just let the virus run its course. It looks way worse than it is. One of the telltale signs is bright red cheeks -- like they've been "slapped". Good luck and hope they recover soon.

Hi S.. I run a daycare and we recently had a bout of the Roseola too, so I am going to agree with all these other mothers and say that Roseola could be the case. It's the first thought that came to mind when I read your question. The tell tale sign as everyone has mentioned is the fever that precedes the rash. It doesn't even have to be a high fever either (so unfortunately it may have gone un-noticed). It can be contagious, so your other son may experience something similar as well. If I were you, I would just keep an eye on him until Monday and then take him in, unless symptoms get worse.

The rash could be hand, foot and mouth disease. My daughter, who is 17 months old, had it the other month and her pediatrician said it runs rampant in the summer time. Along with a rash that covered my daughters back, stomach and behind she also was a little cranky and didn't eat as well for a few days. My pediatrician said that the rash is the last part of the illness and there is nothing that they can do to treat it. It may not be what your little one has but it's just a suggestion!

My 3 year old had, what sounds to be the same thing, not too long ago. I got worried just like you! She had fevers along with it, and I eventually took her into the ER, and ended up being just viral. No meds, nothing...just hydrate! Beware, if you do take him to the ER....it took forever...trying to get mine to pee in a cup. We were there for almost 3 hours just for that alone. I would guess it is viral, but never hurts to make sure.
K.

Has he run a fever recently? Maybe just a fever and no other symptoms?

About six months ago, my daughter had a fever for about two or three days. We took her to the emergency room per her ped. and they couldn't find anything at all wrong with her other than the fever. The fever went away and about two days later she got the spotty rash. It is called roseola. If it is roseola there is nothing you can do. The rash will clear up on it's own. It's a very common illness and most kids get it before or around age two.

From what you describe it sounds like Amanda is right. We see it all the time in the day care. Your son could have run a low grade fever a few days (or nights ago) and it would not have really gotten your attention. Most of the children that I have seen with roseola have run a low to mid grade fever within a few days of the rash. It should clear up in a few days on its own.

My child came down with a fever last Sunday. On Wed he started getting spots exactly like you've described(my kids had never had this before and this was the first time my little one had even been sick at all). I took him to the Dr. yesterday(Thursday) and was told it's just a virus and the spots should be gone in the next few days. Obviously I'm not a Dr. but if your not sure what it is it's always best to call the Pediatrician on call. Doesn't your Dr.'s office have a Ped on call at nightime to anwer questions? That's what they are there for, don't feel bad about calling to ask about the care of your child.

if he had a fever for a few days prior and after the fever broke I would suspect roseola.

We just had something like that with all 3 kids. 3 weeks in a row. It was 5th disease. The face should get red circle cheeks if its that. 90% off rashes don't need to be seen. We had looked on line to see what the rash looked liek with one of the kids. By the 3rd child having it we happened to be at the dr's with one of them for school stuff. He looked at the baby and said yes, its 5ths. The rash will last 3 to 4 days and get darker.
L.

You could try benadryl or if you don't want to give any medicine, you could always to Patient First instead of the ER.

By any chance have you changed laundry detergant or fabric softener? My daughter had a rash on her chest area this past week and it turned out to be from the elastic in her new shirts that she got for school, we put hydrocortinzone on it and it seemed to help with the redness and by the time she got home from school it was more or less gone.

The rash you see could be strep rash. A lot of people have heard of strep throat but children can also get strep rash. The rash will probably last for about 4 to 5 days. Call the Dr. as soon as possible so that you can get your son on an amoxicillin.

Good Luck.

I have three children and all of them have allergic reactions to environmental and food items. That kind of reaction is usually from a food or an ingredent in the food. The best way to find out is him allergy tested.

i suggest strongly you call your drs office. i work at a drs office and we have an emergency number on our answering machine that beeps the dr. if not then go to pharmacist and ask them or to a minute clinic type thing at the pharmacy

Roseola or Fifth's Disease

if he isnt itching and can still swallow then just keep an eye on him and give him benedril.

Hi, S., Did you switch laundry products? Bath products? Could it be some sort of insect bites? No, I wouldn't think you need to go to the ER, unless it seems to bother him, starts looking worse, drives him crazy with ithching, etc. Good luck! N. B.

Is it Chiken Pox or prickly heat? Does he itch? I'd give him a cool bath with baking soda in the water. It might give him relief. AF