strange rash on a 10-month old. please help!

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 06:54:02 GMT, "toypup"
wrote:

"CY" wrote in message
news:jtyzb.23481$o9.2301@fed1read07...
It looks JUST LIKE the Roseola rash my daughter had a few weeks ago. Rash
lasted about 4-5 days and didn't bother her. It came and went in severity
too.

DS had roseola and the rash appeared smooth. The splotches were bigger and
diffuse. The rash of the OP's child seems raised and are smaller. Not a
doc, really. Just what the doc told me it was when I brought DS in.

Roseola just happens to be one particular viral exanthem that has a
name, so people often call any exanthem "roseola" whether it really is
or not.

Some of the pictures do look like roseola, some don't. It doesn't
really matter -- whether the exanthem is caused by HHV-6 or some other
virus is irrelevant.

PF

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 06:50:02 GMT, "toypup"
wrote:

"JG" wrote in message
et...
"CY" wrote in message
news:jtyzb.23481$o9.2301@fed1read07...
It looks JUST LIKE the Roseola rash my daughter had a few weeks ago.
Rash
lasted about 4-5 days and didn't bother her. It came and went in
severity
too.

I'm hoping the OP gets a satisfactory diagnosis. While it *could* be a
"classic," harmless amoxicillin rash, (1) those usually don't show up
until about 5 days after starting the course of treatment and

Wouldn't that only be if the child never had amox before? If they'd had it
before, then the reaction may occur sooner.

It's important to distinguish between a true drug allergy and a drug
eruption. Drug eruptions are idiosyncratic and can occur at any time
during therapy and, in my experience, are more common than true
allergy (e.g. urticaria, swelling). The distinction is important
because a true allergy indicates an increased risk of anaphylaxis with
future exposre, whereas a drug eruption does not.

PF

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 13:02:49 GMT, "C Du"
wrote:

Thank you very much for all who replied. We really APPRECIATE greatly!

A few things to add:

1) The doctor didn't see any ear infection or lung problems. His reason to
put Josh on antibiotics was that "he's losing the battle.. stuffy nose (not
running much) on and off for 20 days.."

In other words, he had no clear diagnosis, but decided to start
antibiotics anyway? One can, however, make a case for acute sinusitis,
which should be suspected if there is persistent rhinorrhea beyond 10
days. However, for a child who is in daycare this time of year, it's
actually much more likely that his stuffy nose is the result of
consecutive, overlapping, uncomplicated viral infections rather than a
secondary bacterial sinusitis.

When a child gets a new fever on top of ongoing symptoms, there are
basically two possibilities: (1) A new viral infection, or (2) a
secondary bacterial infection, the two most common of which are ear
infection or pneumonia. (Sinusitis, by the way, does not usually cause
high spiking fevers unless it is a severe, invasive form that won't be
subtle on exam.)

If this child came to see me with 20 days of rhinorrhea and NO fever,
I might be inclined to treat with antibiotics for sinusitis. However,
this case demonstrates why, in the setting of a new fever without
obvious source, it is more prudent to observe off antibiotics, because
accurate diagnosis often requires re-evaluation as the disease process
evolves. Antibiotics make this re-evaluation and further treatment
much more difficult (e.g., a rash appears and the antibiotic is
suspected as in this case, or an ear infection develops requiring a
change in antibiotic, or the child develops meningitis and the CSF
culture is rendered useless, etc.). Again, there are many, many
reasons not to use an antibiotic and few good reasons to use one.

2) There were no lab testing done to determine whether it's bateria or not.
I don't know whether that's a standard procedure or not. But from the look
of it, my doc's clinic doesn't seem to have that capacity, which leads me to
wonder if I should pick another doctor altogether

It is not standard procedure. For most patients with a fever, blood
tests are not helpful and in fact can often confuse the picture.

3) Should I take Josh to some specialists to make sure whether he is
allergic to amox or not? Our Doc seems to think that's un-necessary since
there are other antibiotics we can use and no point to test and know whether
it's amox allergy or not.

I wouldn't waste a specialist's time nor subject Josh to any testing.
Next time he needs an antibiotic, he can either avoid amoxicillin or
take the first dose of amoxicillin in the doctor's office and wait
half an hour.

PF

"Nic" nlmilesatoptushomedotcomdotaunospam wrote in message . au...
\
Thank you very much in advance!

Cathy and Will

The starting of eczema ?
That is how my dd's eczema started out and it got worse ....
just my thought ....

Nic

My son had a rash like this at about 6 months old three days after
starting penicillin. It got worse and did not clear entirely for three
weeks, even though we stopped the antibiotic after three days. We got
the same initial response from an emergency room doc-- you are
overreacting, this is just a normal viral rash. But later our family
practice doc said he thought it was a penicillin allergy. My husband,
as it happens, is also allergic to penicillin.

I hope your child is better soon!
Kristi

I'd be REALLY leery of giving a 10-month old shrimp, as shellfish are high
up on the list of allergenic foods. And what's this "chewed up by mom" bit?
If the baby doesn't have the teeth to handle the food, use a knife or a fork
to mash it up!

"C Du" wrote in message
. ..
Our son Josh is having a rash that's even strange to the doctor.
Basically,
he got a rash two days after taking antibiotics for the first time
(Amoxicilin). The rash looks like red small dots (see photos in the web
page
below). We stopped the antibiotics and it gradually reduced over 3 days.
Then it came back again, stronger. Right now the doc not sure whether it's
allergy to antibiotics or not, since it should not restart. And virus
usually don't come back like this either.

Could you help us please? We'll probably go to see an allergy specialist
tomorrow if he won't get any better (he's on Benadryl now). The rash
itself
seems not bothing the Josh. What we concern most is that we might be
overlooking something more serious. The following is a complete
description
of his illness history and any related information we could think of,
which
can also be found on the webpage we created, along with photos.

Thank you very much in advance!

Cathy and Will
please post or reply to:

this webpage has photos and descriptions:
http://131.247.137.56/rash/

Detailed info below:

He is 10 months old, weights 18 lbs and started daycare a month ago, in an
infant room with 5 other kids (all under age of 1), taken care most of the
time by two teachers. He had a stuffy nose on and off for 20 days. Then he
got fever on Monday night (11/24, 101.7F under arm, reduced by Tyleno).
Went
to see Doc Tuesday (11/25) and was put on antibiotic (Amoxicilin). He took
them noon time and dinner time. Tuesday night still got fever (102,
reduced
by Tyleno). Wed took anti; Wed night didn't since he throwed up the
medicine. No fever that night. Thursday morning (11/27) we noticed rash
(not
ichy), only under clothes and inside diaper (see photo). Called Doc on
duty
and was told probably viral infection and keep taking anti. Took anti in
the
morning and dinner time. Rash worsened next day and speading to whole
body,
legs and arms, even face (Friday (11/28). Called again, same Doc on duty
and
told to stop anti and wait to see if disappear in 48 hours. Slowly fading
by
Sunday afternoon. Monday (Dec.1) was ok so he was in daycare, by evening
time rash came back, starting all over the body (see photo). Went to see
Doc
next day (Tuesday 12/2) and put on Benadryl, suspecting anti induced
allergy
but not sure, since they seldom restart. He took Benadryl (1/2 tsp) noon,
5pm, 9pm and 3am. 12/3 morning notice rash reduced in the trunk area but
increased in the legs and arms. Called Doc again and was told to keep
medication.

He has been breastfed and started last month on formula (Similac Advance).
Regular food including oatmeal cereal, canned baby food (Gerber, fruit,
vegi, chicken etc), banana, and sometimes very small amount of fish and
shrimp (chewed up by mom) mixed with cereal. Nothing special was
introduced
during this time as far as we could tell. We live in Florida and his daily
routine is pretty much daycare and home (apartment). He started walking
about 2 weeks ago and can take several steps by himself alone. He's got 2
fully out teeth (up and down) and two more showing up just now. I have
full
resolution pictures if you need them (3mb resolution). Thank you very
much.

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 01:10:02 GMT, "C Du"
wrote:

Our son Josh is having a rash that's even strange to the doctor. Basically,
he got a rash two days after taking antibiotics for the first time
(Amoxicilin). The rash looks like red small dots (see photos in the web page
below). We stopped the antibiotics and it gradually reduced over 3 days.
Then it came back again, stronger. Right now the doc not sure whether it's
allergy to antibiotics or not, since it should not restart. And virus
usually don't come back like this either.

My eldest got a rash which looked very similar to this when she took
amoxycillin as an infant. It was mainly on her torso, but looked just
the same as your pictures. I was concerned at the time in case this
was a serious allergic reaction that could escalate, but was told to
monitor her breathing and continue the drug, which we did. The rash
eventually faded and she has had amoxy since without any similar
reaction, so I don't know whether it was in fact related to the drug.

On the whole, although we have not observed any consistent allergy to
a specific substance, I have found that my daughter has a tendency to
break out in rashes or hives periodically, and also has a relatively
bad reaction to insect bites - but nothing has needed more than
topical treatment or OTC anti-histamines, so far (she is now 5).

--Lisabell

Hi,

Thanks so much for such educated pieces! I am sure not only us benefited
from your replies greatly! Thank you thank you!

When you have time, could you explain a bit more (in plain english if
possible) what's the difference between drug eruption and allergy?

Also, one piece info I failed to mention in our original post (but I did fix
my webpage), is that Josh got yellowish mucus from his nose from time to
time, just prior to the initial fever. He also had coughs from time to time.
Maybe two or three times a day and sometimes at night, but can be very scary
(as if he's choking and it seems coming from deep inside). Would that
justify our doc's usage of antibiotics?

As of today (full 7 days later), his rash is subsiding and he's currently on
Children's benadryl. We hesitate to put him on medications of any kind, but
a call to our doctor this morning and we were told to keep him on it. After
the rash, I guess then he'll put him on another type of antibiotics, which
was mentioned briefly during our last visit (two days ago). This time, his
justification would be the cough. That cough woke me up one night (I am very
sound sleeper), and it was long (about 5 or 6 coughs in a row) and deep, as
if he was choking.

Thanks again!

Will

PS We'll put him off those seafood for the time being... but we thought he
was on the light side of his weight chart and needed some good protein. He
has not gained much weight for about 4 months now. He was 17 and half when
he made 6 month visit and now he's 10 months and 18 lbs. Recently, he
throwed up twice when eating and gaging from time to time when eat, which
often stops us from further feeding, in fear of another "eruption". Any
tips? By the way, he seems like tofu alot.


"PF Riley" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 06:50:02 GMT, "toypup"
wrote:

"JG" wrote in message
et...
"CY" wrote in message
news:jtyzb.23481$o9.2301@fed1read07...
It looks JUST LIKE the Roseola rash my daughter had a few weeks ago.
Rash
lasted about 4-5 days and didn't bother her. It came and went in
severity
too.

I'm hoping the OP gets a satisfactory diagnosis. While it *could* be a
"classic," harmless amoxicillin rash, (1) those usually don't show up
until about 5 days after starting the course of treatment and

Wouldn't that only be if the child never had amox before? If they'd had
it
before, then the reaction may occur sooner.

It's important to distinguish between a true drug allergy and a drug
eruption. Drug eruptions are idiosyncratic and can occur at any time
during therapy and, in my experience, are more common than true
allergy (e.g. urticaria, swelling). The distinction is important
because a true allergy indicates an increased risk of anaphylaxis with
future exposre, whereas a drug eruption does not.

PF

thought you'd be interested in these articles. A sizable chunk of kids
develop a rash from Amoxicillan and it isn't necessarily allergy
related.

http://www.aaaai.org/aadmc/ate/amoxicillin.html
http://www.drgreene.com/21_307.html
http://www.mcg.edu/pediatrics/CCNote...er2/rashes.htm


Mary G.

"user" wrote in message
. com...
I'd be REALLY leery of giving a 10-month old shrimp, as shellfish are
high
up on the list of allergenic foods. And what's this "chewed up by mom"
bit?
If the baby doesn't have the teeth to handle the food, use a knife or a
fork
to mash it up!

I think it's common in some cultures for the mom to chew up the food for the
baby. I'm told that's what my grandma did for my dad. It would be more
hygenic to use something else, but they didn't have forks or food mills that
I'm aware of. Knives were for cooking. They weren't usually used at the
table. He lived in a rural village.

In article ZBLzb.420513$HS4.3344596@attbi_s01,
"toypup" wrote:

"user" wrote in message
. com...
I'd be REALLY leery of giving a 10-month old shrimp, as shellfish are
high
up on the list of allergenic foods. And what's this "chewed up by mom"
bit?
If the baby doesn't have the teeth to handle the food, use a knife or a
fork
to mash it up!

I think it's common in some cultures for the mom to chew up the food for the
baby. I'm told that's what my grandma did for my dad. It would be more
hygenic to use something else, but they didn't have forks or food mills that
I'm aware of. Knives were for cooking. They weren't usually used at the
table. He lived in a rural village.



hardly necessary in the US today -- and of course it is a great way to
make sure the kids have dental decay since this is one way the germ
that causes it is spread