Tonight while giving my five-year-old son a bath, my husband noticed a series of raised white bumps on his thighs and buttocks. The rash was definitely not there last night, because I bathed him and would have noticed. When questioned, our son said the bumps itch, but he has not been scratching noticeably. I am washing all of his bedding and pajamas tonight, and if the rash appears the same or no better tomorrow am debating a trip to the Minute Clinic, since our doctor doesn't keep office hours over the weekend. He hasn't had exposure to anything unusual as far as I know. Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of what to look for, or any experience with a sudden rash like this?
Thanks.
Thanks for all the helpful responses. By the next morning, much of the original rash had disappeared but new patches had appeared elsewhere - mostly legs and arms. We applied some homeopathic anti-itching cream and skipped the bath last night - this morning, the rash has completely disappeared. Thanks again!
don't rush to the dr. for a rash unless there are other symptoms
this honestly doesn't sound like anything that will even still be there tomorrow, so mellow out and see where it goes. If it gets bigger or more then you can go in on Monday, but there is no reason to rush into the clinic for a rash like you described.
N.
My son is 3.5 and has gotten two unidentified rashes in his life..once on the back of his knee and it grew worse to to the back of his leg and once just recently on the back calfs both legs. If you don't think it could be a change in soap or detergent it may be something topical he came in contact with.....My dr's nurse each time had me try a combo of cortiad and anti-fungal cream over the counter for a few days. When that didn't work our peed saw him and prescribed a topical steriod which worked right away!
I'm not a physician but this sounds like something we've been battling. We did go to the doctor with our 2 and 4 year old who had bumps that were basically flesh colored/clear and not really itchy - just annoying. We were told it is "Moluscum Contagiosum" even though it is actually not contagious. Go ahead and look it up on Google - there are plenty of entries.
We had a beetle juice treatment (not kidding) where they dabbed the bumps with irritating juice from an actual beetle. It is left on for 4 hours and is supposed to irritate the area enough to conjure white blood cells to come fix the situation. Well, it worked (with some burning sensation at the end) but they have come back. Our regular doctor told us to just wait it out with kids as the bumps will resolve themselves in about 9 months. They said it usually afflicts kids with eczema and is just a response to a viral infection and is nothing to worry about. Good luck.
R.,
My son gets patches of hives when he has a virus running through his system. He wil get a couple patches then they dissapear and come back in different spots. They look like red patches with white raised bumps in them. Kind of like a patch of mosquitoe bites. They tend to itch but always go away when his virus has run it's course. He gets them even with a common cold virus. Could your son maybe have a cold or something right now? I usually give my son some Benadryl to ease the itching. I guess some kids get hives when they have viruses because their immune system is immature aka according to our doctor. They said he should outgrow them as he gets older.
M.
It may be a yeast rash, but I can't tell over the computer. Occurs in buttocks, thighs where it is warm/moist. You could wait or get some clortrimazole sp? (antifungal)cream (over the counter) and see if it clears up. Then if it doesn't get better, by the time you pediatrician's office opens on Monday, you could give them a call. I probably wouldn't take him to the clinic (unless it gets worse).
With the weather getting colder and him probably playing outside in it I would guess that is what has caused it. I know the first signs of weather change show in my skin and I get bumps and itchies! It is annoying but just using a moisturizer without perfumes will make a huge difference. If you go to the pharmacy ask them for Vanicream. They normally keep it behind the counter- who knows why! But it is safe and not expensive and a little goes a long way!
Good luck to you and I hope your son feels better fast! Blessings to all!
Could he be too hot? I know that sounds funny, but my son developed the same thing on his lower back. I thought is was some sort of diaper rash, but pedi said no to that and told me it was heat rash. We put hydracortisone cream on it and it went away overnight.
Good luck!
Any chance he has worn new clothing? Ther could be residue there. Also, as suggested before, maybe playing outside with fallen leaves,etc.
Have you changed the soap you use for the sheets? I developed a rash from laundry soap out of the blue once. Also, I read someplace there is a virus going around that comes with a rash like that with no other symptoms...maybe a little low grade fever. Good luck, I hope it clears up!
It could be from giving him too many baths. In cool weather a child doesn;t need a bath every day, it strips the skin of natural oils. If you feel he does need a bath every night, don;t use soap, just plain water, to get him clean. My daughter had eczema when she was little and the dermatologist said plain water baths except for 2x a week, and only shampoo 2x a week & only shampoo when under the shower, in other words don;t introduce chemicals from shampoo into the tub. Also, you have 3 minutes from the time he gets out of the tub to dry him off lightly (let a little moisture remain on the skin) and apply a good unscented but not heavy body lotion (we use Aveeno). This is because the skin starts to lose the hydration of the bath within 3 minutes (this goes for adults too, btw!). Also, make sure you are not using dryer sheets as they leave a chemical film on clothes which is not healthy. Use liquid softener or,if at all possible, skip softener altogether and use white vinegar instead. Vinegar will leave your clothes just as soft & its natural. Also use free & clear laundry soap & not as much as recommended - you're clothes will get clean, trust me :)
Sprinkle with a little corn starch so the little guy has no itch until you find out what it is.
It sounds a little like mollescum, without being able to see it. My daughter got it from her cousin, who originally got it from her sister (other cousin). It is very contagious & my pediatrician is a firm believer in waiting it out. it has been about 6 months, but it has primarily stayed under her arms & on the side of torso. My neice had it on her legs & buttocks. Due to the fact you said the bumps were raised & white is why I think it may be mollescum. Its not horrible, just a pain & I had to cover the area with t shirts all summer, so she wouldn't pass it on. Your best bet is your pediatrician & I know there are some pediatricians who will refer you to dermatologists to burn each one off (which I know my almost three year old would not tolerate)& there is something else that is derived from beetle juice, or called beetle juice that people have had success with. I have also heard of tea tree oil keeping it from spreading. I may try the tea tree oil if it doesnty go away soon, but just riding it out at this point. It doesnt seem to bother my daughter at all, but it sure bugs me. Make sure you are washing your hands well when you touch it, because you can get it too. I hope it is something else, but if it still remains & they start to get red & rupture ( that is your bodies mechanism for ridding them by the way) that is probably what it is. Lots of information on this site about them too. Good luck.
Did you switch laundry soaps or other soaps? Did he eat anything different? You are not calling it hives, which is a lot of times associated with an allergic reaction (uneven red blotchy bumps) however, I would probably still give him Benadryal and see if he responds to it. If you are washing his bedding, I would probably just wash it in hot water without soap, if it's only been a couple days since you have washed it. Just keep an eye on it and I would address it if it became worse. Good luck.
