Conference moira::parenting

781.0. "Rashes" by APSMME::STEGNER () Thu Jul 14 1994 23:03

    My son got a cold, and soon after got a red rash, that "travelled"
    over his body, and looked pretty gross at times.  It was *part*
    of the skin, rather than bumps on the skin.  He quickly recovered
    from the cold, but the rash moved on.  My husband and I thought it
    must be a reaction to something, but we couldn't figure out what.
    I called the nurse (twice), but at the time, my son felt and was acting
    fine, so she wasn't concerned.  When it moved to his face, I took
    him in, and the doctor had no idea what it was. So today I got to
    take him to the dermatologist--
    
                          a virus.
    
    So I thought I'd pass along a little hint she told me about rashes:
    
         If the rash is symmetrical-- on *both* arms, or *both* feet, it's
         almost always a virus.  A contact reaction (being allergic to
         something) will not be symmetrical.
     
    
    - Pam
      A.K.A. "Dr. Mom"

    Oh-- a caveat:
    
          Allergies to drugs also look symmetrical, so be sure you haven't
          given the child any new medications before you pass it off as a 
          virus...
    
          (according to the dermatologist)

    A staff infection can move accross the body also- it can look like a 
    large angry red area that grows and moves to new areas. Will persist
    if untreated by antibacterial creams or medications.