Hi everyone,
About two weeks ago my 15-month-old son started getting small red dots, just a few at a time. One day he'd have a few on his face, the next they'd be gone but there might be one on his ear. They seemed to clear up just after Thanksgiving, but this morning after a fitful night of sleeping he woke up with a fever of 101.2. I gave him some Ibuprofen, and after an hour his fever was down to 99.1. He seemed a little sleepy but otherwise normal; he ate his breakfast just fine and has been in good spirits.
When I changed him an hour or two after he woke up, he had a new, large cluster of these red dots on his outer thigh. They are a bit smaller than the head of a pencil eraser.
Now he has one on his hand, two on one ear, and one on the other; I think two more just popped out on his face. They don't seem to bother him and are not raised. The rash doesn't look or behave like chicken pox.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? His pediatrician asked me to bring him in because of the fever associated with it, which I'm doing this afternoon, but if anyone has dealt with this and can help assuage my fears, please let me know!
Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions.
From what the pediatrician said, it is a "good rash," and related to what she described as a fairly common cold. The rash has since disappeared; his fever spiked last night but it looks like the worst of it is over. This morning he definitely felt a bit better and by this afternoon his temp is down to 99.6. What a relief!
Just a warning to all the moms in the area: the pediatrician's office was super-busy yesterday, and from what she told me there is definitely something going around! It seems to last 24-48 hours but is nothing major.
Thanks again everyone!
My youngest had something similar, however it was only a week or so after she had her combination mumps, measles rubela shot. It didn't last very long and as to date she hasn't gotten anything of the like again.
E.,
My friend's little girl has something called HSP (henoch schonlein purpura)...sounds like what you are describing (but so does everyone else's comment), but it something people can get after an upper respiratory infection, or a virus or something. I dont know enough about it, but you can look it up. If you take him to the doc, make sure you mention this, in case he over looks it. My friend's pediatrician said he has been seeing a lot of cases of this lately, and its something the doctors need to monitor.
Its probably nothing, but doesnt hurt to see a doc anyway.
Good luck.
My son is 14 months and he had about the same thing your son has when he was about a year old. It ended up being a viral rash, which they can't do anything for. The doctor said it would get worse before it got better, & that's exactly what happened. I just bathed my son twice a day to give him some relief, especially before bed. Also, I only put him to bed in a onesie (& turned the heat up a tad) to keep him comfortable at night.
Hope this is all it turns out to be for him! Good luck!
It could be hand foot and mouth or chicken pox. Are they scabing over? My son had hand foot and mouth a little while ago and now has chicken pox. The difference is that the chicken pox are getting scabs. Apparently at this age, chicken pox do not look like what we remember them as, huge spots! They still have some immunity from you. Also, the chicken pox are making their rounds right now, there has been a bit of an outbreak I am told. My son did have a fever with the chicken pox and not with hand foot and mouth. Hope the doctors appointment goes well.
my boys had something similar but it was mostly around their hands, feet and inside of the mouth. The doctors called it mouth and foot disease I think. They prescribed antibiotics and it went away in a matter of days, the hardest part was that the bumps actually got inside their throughts making very hard and painfull to swallow. Hope your little guy gets better soon.
F.
E.,
This sounds very much like Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (just like the first few moms observed). There is no other treatment besides Motrin for discomfort. DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN. This can lead to Reye Syndrome.
It is caused by the Coxsackie 16 enterovirus (usually) and is more common in late summer and autumn. It usually breaks out all over day care or other populated environments.
It's contagious but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Its passed by body fluids like saliva. It should go away on its own in 7-10 days.
Have you considered hand foot & mouth? My son has had it a couple times and it sounds almost exactly like what you are describing. If it is HFM, all they give is Motrin to ease some of the more painful sores. HTH!
Hi E.!
Of course, I'm no doctor, but it might sound like 5th disease. Although I'm not sure if fever is associated with that or not. Don't hesitate to call the ped's office and just talk to a nurse about it. Then if they feel necessary to bring him in, that have it checked. Then you will have piece of mind. All my kids had it...it's pretty common. At first, I thought it was chicken pox too. Then perhaps an allergic reaction to something..????? It sure keeps us guessing.
Good luck and let us know what happens!
AMH :)
Hi E.,
You beat me to the punch, I was just about to ask other mom's the same exact question! My son also broke out w/very similar rash like dots. I had just taken him to his ped for his 1 yr check up and he had a flu shot. I had asked the ped about these bumps and she said sometimes after a cold they may break out in a rash. It went away after a couple of days, but then 4 or so days after his flu shot, he had a fever and yet again, red dots, (he gets them on his chest and back). Called the ped again and she said the same thing but to keep an eye on them, if they worsen i should bring him in. Thankfully, they haven't but now he has horrible diaper rash...lol. Just keep an eye on the bumps and do what your gut says to do. Good luck!
N.
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that it may have to do with the "End" of a viral infection. With a fever, and getting teeth, and so many other possibilities that it could be, he may be trying to fight it. Dont be alarmed, and just wait for the ped to tell you what it is. Keep him out of the tub untill then, because the warm water can agravate it.
