“My little girl 21 months has these very faint spots under her skin. I first noticed the spots on her feet yesterday Sunday. I noticed the spots on her arms this morning Monday. As the day has went on they can be seen on her stomach and thigh. She doesn’t have a temp (37.3), does feel warm but she is a warm child. She’s her normal self. I know these pictures aren’t great quality but it is hard to see them and capture them. Should I be worried?”
My first reaction as a doctor is: If mammy isn’t worried, I probaby shouldn’t be either. Let me explain…
There are many, many reasons for a rash like that. When you have trouble seeing a rash, sometimes it is because it is what docs call “reticular” rash (means lacy)
Rashes can be spots or flat, pink or bright red, fluid filled blisters or tiny bumps, just somewhere or just everywhere. Doctors have developed special ways of describing them in words “maculo-papules” or “plaques” or “vesicles” because photos really don’t capture rashes as well as you would think. Though any honest doctor will tell you that only dermatologists and experienced GPs are usually really good at this skill.
There are many common and harmless causes of rash: mild skin irritation from touching something irritating, mild non-specific (and some specific) viral illnesses, and common harmless conditions such as “prickly heat”
So, when to worry?
1. Is your child unwell in anyway?
2. Is your child distressed in anyway?
3. Is your mammy-gut niggling at you? Like all smart and experience doctor, I believe in listening to mother’s intuition. It’s not always completely right but usually not far off of the mark.
If you are not worried and she is not worried, you could keep a close eye and ring GP if anything changes or worries you.
When to always contact GP?
When your child has a rash and a fever more than 3 days.
When your child has a rash that is non-blanching (that meningitis tumbler test)
When your child is very unwell with any type of rash
When you are worried.
When your newborn has a fever and rash at all.
When your child is not vaccinated and is unwell with a rash
The only “don’ts” with rashes?
1. Don’t Dr. Google. It will just stress you out and hardly likely to be helpful.
2. It’s not always allergies. Don’t allow any unqualified practitioner or home allergy test diagnose a rash in your child as a food allergy without expert input from a qualified doctor or change your child’s diet without input from an INDI/CORU registered dietitian
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