Good morning,
My almost 23 month old daughter has developed a very extensive rash all over her body after spiking a fever earlier this week. We took her to the pediatrician the day she had the fever and I called the pediatrician's office again yesterday because the rash got much worse. They have told us it is a viral rash and not to worry for now, and recommended no specific treatment. They did say to bring her back in if the rash does not start to get better by Saturday. I did some research and I think it might be Sixth Disease, but not sure. My daughter appears to be herself now that the fever has resolved, just a bit more tired than usual. My question is have any of you gone through this with your child and was there anything to alleviate the rash? She is covered from head to toe! Thank you for any suggestions.
Thank you so much for all the responses it really helped keep me calm even after my daughter spiked even more fevers this past weekend. We did take her back to the pediatrician's office on Tuesday and it seems she is finally coming out of all of it. Rash is generally gone and no real fevers since Wednesday. Thank you all.
My daughter had this when she was 21 months, fever for a few days then rash all over. The Dr. said she had rosiola. Don't worry when the rash goes away she will be fine.
My daughter just had the same thing. I am sure it is the sixth disease (roseola). The nurse told me it was just a viral rash too, but I believe it was the roseola. My daughter who is 11 months, had a fever for 3 days with no other symptoms and then as soon as it went away she got the rash. the rash lasted for a few days and faded away. The nurse said as long as the rash doesn't bother her, there is nothing to do.
Sounds like Fifth to me...just has to run its course. Incidentally, it is contagious. I got it from my kids last summer and it is MUCH worse for adults. Felt like arthritis and the rash came and went for months.
As other posters mentioned-get a strep test. My son was 2 when I took him to the doctor for a localized rash in the groin area and it turned out to be strep. Many times kids will have strep and NOT complain of a sore throat.
My daughter had a high fever last week and then got a rash which she still has. I took her to to Dr and after ruling out strep I was told it was fifths disease. I was told there was nothing you do for the rash and it could take weeks to clear up.
If you are not sure insist on an appointment if they will not give you one, just to make sure it is not serious.
My cousin's daughter gets a rash every time she gets over a cold/sickness. It is her body's way of getting rid of the virus/etc. and her doc says it's perfectly normal. However, if you think it is getting worse or seems to be bothering her make an appt. with the doc. Who cares what they say!!! Fifth's disease is also called "slapped cheek", and does have to run it's course. Good luck!
I wonder if it is roseola. My son got that last year. He had a spiking fever as high as 104 for 4 or 5 days, then after his temp returned to normal he broke out in a rash. It started in his diaper area, spread up his body and to his arms and legs. I don't think he had it on his head. It wa a lacy looking rash and not very bumpy.
When my daughter was 13 months she spiked a high fever for a few days. When the fever was over she developed a head to toe rash. Took her to the Peditrician-he said it was heat rash. Took her to the ER-give her tylenol. Took her to an allergist-got lucky there-the allergist used to be a pediatrician took on look at her and said she had scarletina. Strep throat brought on by scarlet fever.
She just had to be on antibiotics for a week. The peditrician tried to say babies don't get it but my kid did.
If it doesn't clear up soon I'd take her back in and have them look at her throat and do a strep test
Hi Diane,
It sounds exactly like what my 15 month old has. It is Roseola (aka..Sixth Disease). She started last Sunday with a fever and she would not walk. The doctor ordered blood work & an xray of her legs. Both came back clear so they diagonosed with a virus. She has had high fevers all week & finally yesterday it broke and today she has the red spots all over her front, back, a little on her legs & on her face. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done. It just has to run it's course. I have been giving her tylenol and letting her rest as much as she wants. I do feel your pain.
It might be something that just needs to run it's course. I just wanted to say that if YOU think she needs to be seen at the dr then insist on an appointment! Never let them dismiss a concern you have. You are paying them for their services, so insist if you must.
That said, you might want to try to give her an Aveeno Oatmeal bath to sooth the rash. Good luck!
My 14 month old son just went through something similar. He had very high fevers for a few days. The day the fever broke, he got a rash all over and it must have been itchy because he was constantly rubbing his head. The doc said it sounded like roseola, except that roseola is not itchy. So, he thought maybe an allergic reaction to something, or a virus, and just told us to use benadryl for the itching and tylenol for any discomfort. After taking the benadryl for a day, the rash didn't bother my son nearly as much and started fading quickly......
If it is Fifths Disease then it literally has to run its course. We were told to stay out of the sun but it can take weeks to clear up completely.
I assume that they examined her thoroughly and ruled out strep with a culture? I was told that strep can present with a rash.
