What’s That Rash??

There’s perhaps little more alarming than seeing a rash appear on your child. Many parents, on seeing a rash, panic and jump to conclusions, thinking that there must be something terribly wrong (having had the meningitis rash warning signs drummed into us for years). But many rashes are harmless, whilst others require minimal treatment to make them go away. Here is a guide to spotting different rashes and what to do about them.

1. Fifth Disease (“Slapped-Cheek Syndrome”)
This is an aptly-named condition since the child looks like they’ve been slapped on the cheeks. It’s contagious but mild, starting with flu symptoms before the rash (which can sometimes appear on the body too) appears. Unfortunately it’s most contagious in the week before the rash appears, so there’s not much chance of avoiding spreading it (it spreads by droplet infection, i.e. sneezes and coughs). It’ll go away on its own but use paracetamol to relieve fever, make sure your child gets plenty of fluid (ice lollies are good for that if they’re not keen on sipping water) and let them rest. It can be harmful to unborn children, though, so if your child has it whilst you’re pregnant then see your GP.

2. Ringworm
This isn’t actually a worm, it’s a fungus but it looks a bit like a worm has burrowed a circular tunnel just under the skin. It’s itchy and may have blisters or scaly bits. It’s contagious and is spread through skin-to-skin contact, and can also be spread through things like sharing towels. It’s easily treated with anti-fungal cream.

3. Chickenpox
My own experience of chickenpox happened when I was six years old and my best friend was poorly. I went round to see her; she said, ‘Do you want two weeks off school?” and when I enthusiastically replied that I did, she kissed me on the cheek. The spots appeared a couple of days later and I got my fortnight off! (My mum wasn’t very pleased, though).
It’s very contagious and the spots that appear are hard to miss or mistake for anything else: they’re red or may be blisters and are extremely itchy. They’re usually worse in warm, moist areas like the nappy region in young children. Itching them can leave scarring. Treatment is paracetamol for any fever and flu-like symptoms, and calamine lotion to try to ease the itching. The good news is that once you’ve had it you probably won’t get it again, though it can lead to shingles which is very unpleasant. If you’re pregnant and your child gets chickenpox, you should see your GP.

4. Impetigo
This looks a lot like coldsores and usually appears on the face near the nose and mouth. It’s easily spread through contact and sharing things like towels and bedding. It’ll clear up with some antibiotic cream or with oral antibiotics.

5. Prickly heat rash
Unlikely to cause problems at this time of year unless you’re on holiday, this rash looks like lots of little red/pink spots all over the head, neck and upper torso. It often happens if a child is over-dressed for the weather. It’s itchy but nothing to worry about.

6. Contact dermatitis
This is a rash caused by the skin coming into contact with something it doesn’t like, or by the sufferer consuming something that their immune system reacts to. It usually just leaves an itchy rash but can also cause blisters that can become infected if they burst and aren’t kept clean (common when it’s on the hands). It will usually go away if exposure to the substance that caused the reaction ends, but may need moisturiser to ease any related dryness.

7. Scarlet fever
This is a throat infection that is accompanied by a rash. Other symptoms are likely to include fever, headache, tummy ache and swollen glands. The rash has a sandpaper texture and lasts for one to two weeks. It’s highly contagious. It used to be fatal, but use of antibiotics make it far less serious than it once was.

8. Roseola infantum (“Sixth disease”)
This is mild but contagious, and usually affects young babies and children up to two years. It usually features a cough or trouble breathing, a fever that can trigger febrile convulsions, and that period lasts about a week. Then the rash appearss – small, pink, quite flat bumps on the torso first then spreading to the limbs and head.
Obviously, always do the meningitis-rash test on any rash that appears to rule it out: press a clear glass to the rash; if it fades it’s okay, if it stays you need urgent medical attention.