For you night owls that are still up.....I hope you can help!
We were at an event at our oldest daughters school this evening and right before we left both of my youngest girls (ages 4 and 6) started complaining that their hands were dry and they needed lotion. I gave them some from my purse, and by the time we got home their hands were warm and red -- I gave them benadryl and put on some Aveno lotion on their hands and forearms. It isn't really bumpy - more of an "irritated look" if that makes sense.
Now, I checked on them about about 30 minutes ago and it is worse, they have red checks (it's not hot in their room), I checked - no fever, and I don't see it anywhere else. I spent the last 30 minutes or so looking on-line and can't find anything. I don't want to be an alarmist....but I'm at a loss and want to make sure they are O.K.
Thanks for any suggestions....
Well we don't know the cause, but talking with our pediatricians office we think it may have been an allergy to something - we can't figure out what, but they both ended up with it two more nights and then it went away for good. It would show up at night - I'd give them benedryl and by morning it was gone and not show up again until night. Several things that you wonderful Mom's mentioned are possiblities too, however the strange thing is the redness on their hands and face going away by morning and not showing up again until bedtime. I've washed everything and hopefully whatever it is won't happen again. Thank you all! You are great!
Sounds like 5th disease. It's been going around. My 6 year old had it a couple of weeks ago. He had a head to toe rash & low fever. If he got hot or ran around too much, it got even worse. Doc said it was nothing serious & we just gave him benedryl. Even almost a week after the rash went away, his lip & genitals swelled up one morning. Took him back & the doctor said it was still just from the virus. Lasted about 2 weeks.
The only thing that comes to mind for me is a yeast infection. Yes you can actually get a yeast infection just about anywhere. I have had to deal with it for many years now and my doc has me on a special cream for when it flairs up. Lotion is not a good thing if that's what they have you would need to just keep as dry as possible. I"m not allowed to use most lotions or soaps and can't use any lind of bubble baths and such. Hope they are feeling better now.
Ugh...I would think 5th also. It's been spreading like a mad man! From what I heard it goes away within a week, is highly contagious and is treated with antibiotics.
It's morning, so you may have already talked to your doctor, but here's my experience:
It could be one of those viruses like 5th disease... I can't think of the name of the virus that causes it. Hand-foot-mouth is another one. They get the rash, and sometimes (I think moreso in the little ones) a fever. I think it's the 5th disease that ends up with a "lacy" looking appearance with the rash, especially after sun exposure.
You might check that out. You older children are a bit old for that, though... Perhaps they somehow bypassed it when they were small.
Last summer my then one year old had a very high fever and a rash all over. I was alarmed, but the pediatrician wasn't. I was told that some viruses just cause that. I was told to give him oral benadryl, and between that and using Motrin/Tylenol to keep the fever down (it worsened when his fever spiked), it got rid of the rash quickly.
Good luck!
D., mom of 5 -- ages 10, 9, 7, 4 and 21 months
The first thing I thought of was Fifth's Disease. I know I received an email from an aquaintence about it going around here as well, so that may be what it is. If not, the allergies is the next place I would look. Good luck!
My son and I both deal with a similar situation. Both of us have extremely sensitive skin that we have to constantly keep moisturized or that is what we deal with. If we don't keep our hands moisturized then when we put lotion on, it feels like our hands are on fire and they get very red. My son and I also get that reaction on our legs, so we have to wear wind pants when the temperature gets around 40 degrees or below. We have never gone to a dermatologist for it, but I did see my doctor once, and she recommended Eucerin.
I have to agree with everyone else - 5ths Disease. But once they get teh rash they are no longer contagious. They are contagious the weeks before & if they have any previous symptoms at all they can be very mild. My son had this in February. He had complained on occasion of a headache, had the sniffles (not at the same time) & one day he came home school was outside playing, came in & bam his face was bright red & hands were bright red. Later it spread into a "patterned rash" all over his stomach & upper legs. I took him to the doctor (so I could get note for school) & they said he could go to school as he wasn't contagious anymore & to let it finish running its course. It looks HORRIBLE! They also said they could do bloodwork to confirm, but didn't feel it was necessary. It is a virus so be careful if they're wanting to prescribe antibiotics. They usually don't help viruses. Good luck, if that is waht it is - you're through the worst of it!
M. has the rash gotten any better?
Have you been able to find out what they touched if anything to produce such a rash? Did they go to the bathroom and wash in an unfamiliar soap (maybe antibacterial)?
Please let me know what you figure out - very interesting,
S.
I don't want to sound bad, but it almost sounds like a form of either heat rash or an allergic reaction. I will tell you that benedryl doesn't always help. I had a severe allergic reaction, I didn't go to the hospital for 3 days due to it going away each day on it's own after I took benadryl. Upon the third day though it got bad enough that my job made me go get checked out. Now, the 3rd day by the time I got to the dr.'s the hives had turned to red splotches kind of like you're describing they were bumpy anymore. They were the same upon my entering the ER later that night upon the symptoms worsening severly. If they seem to continue to cover your children and it doesn't seem to be getting better I would contact your doctor to see what they recommend.
Might be Eythema Infectiosum...or what is called 5ths disease. Usually starts out with red cheeks (they call it the slapped cheek look)...then a lacey red rash appears usually on extremities, legs and arms. If this is the case, it is a virus and generally just has to run its course. It is very contagious, but once the rash appears, it usually is not contagious anymore. That is part of the reason for its contagiousness, as no one knows the child has it because they usually do not show any symptoms during the contagious part of the virus. There is lots of info on the internet:) I am a nurse that works for a dermatologist...thought I would tell you about 5ths in case that is what it is.
L.
It sounds like it may be fifth disease. It's a fairly common infection in children. My kids had it over the summer. It's caused by a virus, so there's not much that can be done, except to wait for it to pass. Antibiotics won't help. You can check out more info about it on www.webmd.com
It sounds scarier than it is. My kids each had it less than a week. Like many childhood illnesses, it can be dangerous for unborn babies, so be sure to warn any pregnant women you or your children have been around.
Hello M.!! I am also a mom of four kids (4,4, 7 & 8)(yes - twins. My boys and my one daughter both get red cheeks that look sore. I have figured out that it is from dry skin. Your kids' rash could be from dry skin or something that they got into. When you put the lotion on it - it might of irritated it more - especially if you used a lotion from the store with chemicals in it. All my skin products that I use on my children are all natural with no chemicals and it makes a world of difference. Something I use for dry skin is called "Bottoms Up" - It is like a natural neosporin - It is awesome. And you can feel good about it because there is no harsh hidden chemicals. These skin products are called Lemongrass Spa Products and they are made fresh in the Coloroado Rockies!! If you are interested in checking them out more - you can check out the website at www.ourlemongrassSpa.com/T..
Hope this helps!
Wow, lots of answers! Here's mine, heh.
My son got dry, chapped hands really bad this winter. Now, I use Bath&BodyWorks soaps and lotions all the time. When I put some of that on his chapped hands, he said it hurt, and they got really red and rashy-looking, even after washing it off. The next day I got him some of the udder cream lotion that my mom uses, and that made the redness go away, and really softened his skin. So, maybe if your lotion was scented, that could have caused their already chapped hands to react.
Or, it could be what everyone else said, heh. Good luck, and I hope it's gone soon!
Did they happen to come in contact with any chemicals?
It sounds maybe like it could be a chemical burn, which could happend strictly from some strong cleaners.
It sounds like it could be Fifth Disease.
Someone mentioned chemical burns. I have read that Mr. Clean erasers will cause chemical burns on the skin. They look harmless, but make sure you keep them away from your kids.
I had a problem with red burning hands which finally resulted in blisters like a burn. Anything I put on them made it worse. I worked in several hospitals and none of the M.D,. could figure it out.
Finally I had a live blood cell analysis and it showed too much fungi/yeast in my blood. Read my story at: www.heavyMetalToxicity.org I had to have my mercury fillings removed and go on a yeast free diet. Call me for more info at ###-###-####
If they had cold or flu like symptoms a couple days before the rash appeared, it sounds like it could be fifth disease. It is kind of like measles,mumps,rubella, chicken pox and this is the 5th one, so I guess that is what they call it.
It is actually on the up-swing once the rash arrives.
Of course it would be good to take them in.
A note:It can be a serious illness for pregnant women...for the fetus, so if they do have it, be sure to tell any mom's you know that are pregnant that your kids were around, or even if your kids were around their kids. I am pregnant and going to get a blood test today because of that same senario.
J.
M.,
It sounds like 5th disease....it is not dangerous, but highly contagious. It went through my kids school last year. By the time the rash shows up you are on the downside. Just keep the kids away from others until it is gone and especially stay away from anyone that is pregnant! Call your doctor for advice, but it should go away on its own.
L.
Have you tried using hydrocortisone cream 1%? I would try it. When we first moved to KS, I was here not even 1 day and I woke up with little bumps on the backs of my hands, which itched, and became somewhat pink/red. My hands became dry and cracked with the bumps and after about a week - 2 weeks it went away. It was a reaction to something, but not a bite of anykind. There was not heat or bite marks, no fever, and I was pregnant. About 6 months after I had this my husband also got it, but his was in patches on his fingers and hands. He is a hunter and I thought it was from a poison bush/tree he was exposed to, but when I had it, I touched no trees or bushes. Benadryl, an antihistamine - which slows the histamine response to swelling, itching, and redness, and hydrocortisone, a steroid, relieves itchiness, redness, swelling, and skin irritations, are the two most common creams. Most irritations of the skin respond well to these creams. I couldn't tell you what caused them, but question your kids to see what each of them did before they came on, and find a common denominator. It could be as weird as cosmetics, lotions, soap, or environmental allergens. Good luck.
maybe the school changed the soap they use in the restrooms? did only your daughters use the facilities? just a thought.
Hi M.,
I would say it might be pisson ivy, my daughter got it once and they thought it was chicken pox but without the blisters? Doctor wasn't sure but they end up with the poisson ivy thing. Give them a bath as soon as possible, you need to take the oil out so it stops working! Benadryl is good if it is poisson ivy. Tylenol might help to calm too and caldryl or calamine lotion is very helpful too.
Hope it helps,
Mariana Abadie
www.MaiaCreations.ecrater.com
www.MyKidsFirst.com
It is probably nothing as when my girls was little and would get tired their cheeks would turn real red.A.
It sounds like Fifth Disease...Not a big deal at all. My kids have had it too. It'll probably be gone by the time you read this, but can last for several days. I work in a library and I looked it up to be sure...The book says it's also called the "slapped cheek disease" becaue of the red rash on the cheeks. Anyone can get it, most often occurs in school-aged kids. Usually mild, outbreaks most often occure in Spring or Winter. It might be itchy, or might not. Flu like symptoms occur in some people, mostly adults. It can spread to hands, feet, or other parts of the body and can be lace-like in appearance. When you see the rash they are no longer contagious...(weird huh?). No treatment necessary unless the child has another serious problem (cancer, immune problems etc. it can cause complications under those circumstances). You can give them Tylenol or Advil to help deal with the symptoms. The only danger they mention is to pregnant women exposed...They may want to see a doctor or at least call one, so if they have been around someone pregnant in the last couple weeks you might want to tell them. Have fun with yet another joy of motherhood...kid ickies...lol.
They may have gotten into something before you went to the school. Perhaps some kind of weeds outside that irritated their skin. They might have found something that they're allergice to, and that's why they needed the lotion in the first place. Or you might look and see if maybe you bought a different kind of soap for the bathroom or the laundry. In any case just wash them realy good with soap and water, and then make sure you rinse them extra well, and if it dosen't clear up or they start to get bumps take them to the doctor. You can also call ask a nurse and see what they have to say about it.
Sounds like hand, foot and mouth. Call the pediatrician.
Might be Fifths Disease. My 3 yo has not had it, but it went around her school. I think it appears on the arms and sometimes on the trunk and then usually when it ends up on their face it is about over. My understanding from talking with other moms about it, is that it isn't serious (except pregnant women have to be careful of not being exposed to it if they can)
eh, not fun! don't have any suggestions but as a mother of a child with eczema i can relate. i'd see how it does today and go from there - better safe than sorry, maybe a call to your dr. or a nurses line would have some answers. did you ask them if they'd been playing with anything at the school, or during the day, out of the ordinary? i always hate to call the dr. because they've only ever given me one answer- "better bring him in!" but it sounds pretty wierd. hope it looks better today. might just have been a quick thing that will look better this morning. hope so!
My 2 year old had something like that recently. Just on her hands it almost looks like she got burned. They swelled up and drove her crazy. A year ago her legs would do that. They looked like she got sunburned on shins of her legs. We took her to the doctor and she ended up being allergic to a lot of things mostly milk. So she doesn't drink milk. So when her hands did this I knew it was an allergic reaction I just didn't know to what she didn't eat anything new. I finally realized we swiched laundry soap. It got so bad eventually that it hurt her inside and out. We had to go to the hospital and get a shot. The way you described your kids hands sounds just like my daughter's. It might just be some random thing they came in contact with and had a reaction. Good luck I hope you figure it out. I know how frustrating the not know can be.
