My Son Has a Cold and a rash...are They Related?

Updated on May 31, 2009
M.S. asks from Batavia, IL
4 answers

I noticed on Saturday when my 2 yr old son was in the bath tub that he has a small rash on his tummy... just on one side and nowhere else. It is little light red bumps and felt a little rough, but not bad. Then over that weekend he ran a fever of 100 for a day but by the next day he was fine.

Then, Monday I noticed he started getting stuffy and coughing (Me and my husband have a cold too) but he did not have a fever, he is eating fine, drinking fine, sleeping fine.... he gets up once in the middle of the night but that could be due to the cold he has. And he was running around playing all day. Tuesday I noticed the rash on his tummy (still in the same spot) is a tiny bit bigger...and he had red blotches behind his ear (which I'm thinking now were hives) but now those blotches are gone, but he still has the rash. Again, no fever... just regular cold symptoms.

My sister said that her daughter (which is the same age) Broke out in a rash before that looked just like his and it went away on it's own. Her doctor said that sometimes if kids have a virus it can come out as a rash and then go away.

But, one of the mom's I babysit for said that the rash could mean he has strep. I really don't think so, because I noticed the rash on Saturday (it doesn't seem to be itchy) and I would think he would REALLY be sick by now if that was they case. He is not showing signs of sore throat, or any real discomfort. Just regular cold symptoms as I mentioned... no fever and is still running around the crazy during the day. Also I red that with strep... most of the time you do not have all of the common cold symptoms...and you run a high fever. Also the rash starts on your neck...which his did not.

I was just going to wait it out and if the rash gets worse, or if he gets any new symptoms before I take him to the doctor. What do you think... is this the right course of action? Has anyone else experienced this with their child. That mom just has me a little worried, but deep down I really think it is nothing..as of right now.

thanks!

M.

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So What Happened?

Thank you for your advice and sharing your experiences with me. I ended up taking my son to the doctor yesterday just to be safe because the rash started to spread. They are little light red bumps that are not itchy or bothersome to him at all. The doc wanted to check him out just to be safe that it is not strep. THANKFULLY it is not!!! She just said that he has a nasty little virus that is showing up as a rash and as long as it is not itchy we don't have to do anything for it. IF it starts bothering him, I can put some hydracortizone cream on it and that's it! :o)

More Answers

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T.P.

answers from Chicago on

My little guy just had a fever and mild cold that was accompanied by a rash on his chest and abdomen and behind his ears. It was light red, very small bumps, and did not seem to bother him at all (freaked me out, though). I called his doc and he said it was normal - sometimes when they run a fever or virus they can break out in a rash because of the infection or elevation in body temp. From my understanding (as a nurse) the strep rash is more hive-like and bothersome - an angry rash, if you will. And there is usually a bit more of a fever associated with strep.

Just keep in mind that the doctors and nurses are there to help and if you are worried or concerned just give them a call. They might be able to answer your questions over the phone.

Good luck!
T.

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

M., I feel your pain. I went through the same thing about 2 years ago now...my daughter used to get ear infections and colds all the time. They went hand in hand. She'd get a cold for a couple of days and then spike a really high fever, which let us know she had an ear infection (she never cried from them) Then all of a sudden we went out right after she started a new preschool and she said her tummy was itching. When we got home, I went to put her in the bath and she had red raised welts all over her body. To make a long story short, after studying what she ate (they thought it was a food allergy) and monitoring everything that touched her skin (they thought it could have been a reaction to detergent, soap, etc.,) after realizing Benadryl didn't work, we figured out that it was her body's way of fighting an infection. Instead of getting a cold and a fever before the ear infection, she broke out in those welts. It lasted about 6 months (she got ear infections regularly) they just stopped. The doctors told me it was fairly common and prescribed something that was a lot stronger than Benadryl to give her when they appeared - it made her sleep A LOT but the welts would go away immediately. Knock on wood, they've never returned.

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

I have noticed that rashes and fever come together for my younger son especially. I'm not sure why his body responds that way. But so far it hasn't been related to strep (although he has strep throat this week! No rash, though.) It's been roseola or just "the virus going around." The rashes I'm talking about are mild little red spots/bumps and not itchy at all.

I think if you have any doubt or especially if the fever continues, take him to the doctor. Strep throat comes with a low fever, not high, by the way (that threw me the first time.)

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H.T.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds to me like Scarlet fever. I would take him to the hospital. My Daughter had the same thing when she was younger!

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