Fever & Unexplained Rash

Updated on August 25, 2009
J.A. asks from Bradenton, FL
13 answers

Hi Moms I need some help please!!!! I have a 5 year old daughter that came down with a rash on both of her arms this past Wednesday. It was ONLY on her arms, shoulder to wrist, very hot, itchy, and "welted up" with lots of tiny bumps. I gave her some Benedryl and it went away. It came back the next afternoon so took her to the doctor. He felt it was some kind of contact rash & to keep giving her the Benedryl and gave me some Hydrocortizone cream & told me it would go away in a couple days. Well last night I went to check on her before I went to bed and she was burning up and the rash was back. I put the cream on her and took her temp, it was at 101.0. I gave her some Tylenol & let her go back to sleep. I checked on her another half hour later and she was up to 102.0. I woke her up and gave her a lukewarm bath. The temp still kept climibing. I took her to the ER when it went to almost 103.0. She was also complaining that her throat hurt really bad and she had a headache. After 2 hours in the ER they said they "THINK" it's something viral, it needs to run it's course, and sent her home after giving her Motrin. I'm taking her back to her doctor today. Just wondering if any other Mom's have gone through this or could provide some insight? Sorry for rambling just concerned for my little princess!!! Thanks!!

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So What Happened?

Hi Moms, Thank you so much for all of your advise!! I took her back to her regular doctor and they did a strep test, and several other tests. They tell me she has the Adeno virus. Her doctor says it's the "virus of the month" and they are seeing alot of kids coming in with it. He says that the rash is usually the last to present but she did it in reverse. In addition to the rash and fever this Adeno virus also causes a bacterial infection in the ears and congestion in the lungs and the bloodshot eyes. On the up side she is doing better and should be over all this in about a week or so. On the down side a high fever is part of the virus (she had 102.9 at the doctors!!!) so she's going to be a bit miserable til this clears up!!! Thanks again for all of your responses!!!!

Featured Answers

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S.A.

answers from Tampa on

I think it's Fifth disease. My daughter had it. I wrote in a request. Read the advice I got on this website. It did go away after a few days. I was advised to bathe her in oatmeal or oatmeal bath from Aveeno.

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D.D.

answers from Punta Gorda on

I have heard of children who become allergic to the sun. Hopefully she is better now. I know your post was from a while back. Deb

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S.B.

answers from Tampa on

Sorry, it is so scary when they are sick. I would have done the same thing (Dr & ER) it can be very frustrating when they blame everything on a virus... but they do get a lot of them :) I have no great advice- just thought I'd let you know it sounds like you did the right thing & that I understand your frustration & fear :)

The arm rash did sound like contact dermatitis- MAYBE the symptoms are a coincidence (derm AND a virus)?

My son had a fever for 4 days & then a rash (roseola) but it started on his trunk...

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L.N.

answers from Miami on

I am extremely far behind on my emails but I was wondering how your daughter was doing and what the final verdict was on what she had. On Oprah this evening they talked about a MRSA virus that can be really difficult to battle.

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M.P.

answers from Tampa on

Hi J....did they do a strep culture? Sometimes strep gives you a rash. It very well can be viral. They should have done a blood test to determine viral vs. bacterial. I hope she is better today.

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C.C.

answers from Tampa on

Hi J.,

We went though something very similar about a month ago with our 6 y/o. Welted rash all over...came and went with benedryl...slight fever, so we went to the night-time pediatrician. He found she had an ear infection and said some kids bodies react like this when an infection is present. He prescribed antibiotics and all was fine. She had not complained of her ears hurting at all, so it was quite a shock to hear that's what it was! Perhaps she has a throat infection...such as strep? Hope you figure things out soon and she's back to her normal self!!

Take care,
C.

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R.W.

answers from Tampa on

If it's not strep as a lot of Mom's suggest it could be viral but it could also be something she is coming in contact with causing an allergic reaction. If it continues and the doctor can't figure out what is going on take her to an allergist.

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D.H.

answers from Tampa on

Have them check her for strep. My five year old had the exact same thing a couple of weeks ago and it was scarlet fever. It's basically strep with a rash.

Is the rash all over? Or is it still on her arms? My daughter had it all over her torso. It was the worst on her thighs and under her panties.

The Dr gave her a shot of penicillan and the fever was gone in a few hours and the rash was almost completely gone the next morning.

L.Z.

answers from Naples on

I had the same thing happen to my 8 month old last week. The rash was under her chin and on her chest. She had a runny nose fever and cough. The doctor said the same thing, give her benadryl and tylenol/motrin. The rash started to go away and came back a little. Benadryl works a little. Fever is down but stuffy nose and cough still lingering. They said it will run its course. I hope your daughter gets better soon. I am still waiting as well.

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L.P.

answers from Tampa on

My 18 month old is going through the same thing! He gets a full-body (not just arms)rash- or hives as the doctors call it. He had a fever with the first outbreak and the doctor said it was just a viral thing and that it would run it's course. A week later he developed this same rash but about 15 times worse! I took him to the ER after the pharmacist suggested it. With no fever at that point they said it was a food allergy (although he has had nothing new to eat). It has gone away for now, but we are going to the doctor on Monday for our ER follow-up and they are going to test him for allergies. I hope to find an answer and I hope you find one too. You're not alone!

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N.L.

answers from Naples on

Have the Doc do a test for Scarlet Fever

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E.R.

answers from Lakeland on

Scarlet Fever that's what it sound like to me.

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S.B.

answers from Punta Gorda on

It sounds like 5ths disease..

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