[bmarsicano]

We were at Sesame Place last Sunday and then on Monday I noticed her ear was getting red. Well, the school nurse called and said she was itchy and had an ice pack on it. Called the doctor and he said to give her Benadryl and put corsitsone cream on it. went to the doctor the next day and he gave her a prescription. Well, it was getting worse and they can't figure out what it is, they said it could be a virus. Well, the rash is traveling, it went around her neck up her hair line, down her back and around her front. It's itchy but not contageous. Any moms whose kids have had something like this can help. Her regular doctor put her on Zyrtec and some type of cream which seems to be helping, but her teacher said she wasn't herself in class, maybe too much Zyrtec.

Thanks
Barbara

[Kasey]

what does the rash itself look like-red raised, flat, dry, any weeping areas? Any other sx go along with it, fever, nausea, diarrhea?
Have you had any detergent changes or anything like that?
The Zyrtec can definitely make her a little groggy, less active or not herself.

[bmarsicano]

Well, at first it looked like shingles, but now it's just a red rash, not bumpy, pimply, just a flat red rash circleing around her neck. No other things wrong with her. I changed detergents about 3 weeks ago, but would have noticed that right away since she was wearing her uniform after the new detergent. Nothing in her diet has changed.

[sak9645]

This sounds to me like Fifth Disease, which is really common in kids from 5-15.

Fifth Disease is a viral infection. The first sign is usually a red area on the face that looks like it has been slapped. I suppose that the red ear might have been a variant of that. The rash then becomes more "lacy" in appearance and spreads to the neck, chest, back, limbs, etc. Some kids itch, but some don't. The rash goes away in 7-10 days.

Many times, before the first official symptoms appear, the child will appear to have caught a cold; he/she may have a runny nose, a slight fever and feel "blah" about a week or two before the rash develops. Did your child seem a little off her game last week? Did she have a runny nose?

Fifth Disease is usually transmitted in saliva and nasal mucus. It spreads swiftly in schools and other places where kids congregate. As you know, it's not uncommon for kids to share candy bars, drinking cups, utensils, etc. It's also not uncommon for a child to wipe his/her nose and then later touch the hand of another child, who subsequently puts that hand in his/her mouth.

Fifth Disease also spreads quickly in families, who may also share food and utensils, and who may not be compulsive about handwashing. While many adults are already immune, they CAN catch it if they haven't been exposed before, and they are generally going to get much worse symptoms, including joint pain and swelling. The good news is that once a person gets Fifth Disease, he/she can't get it again.

Another bit of good news is that Fifth Disease isn't a long term issue for people who are not pregnant, have good immune systems, and have no chronic diseases like sickle cell anemia, any form of cancer, etc. In people who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or ill with a chronic disease, it can be serious, however, and may require medical treatment.

There is no real "cure" for Fifth Disease. In the mild version that kids tend to get, it simply has to run its course. An antihistamine, such as Benadryl or one of the less sedating products, may be useful if there is itching. Children's Tylenol or Motrin can be used for fever or malaise.

In general, by the time the rash appears on a child, he/she has already past the period where he/she is infectious to others. As a result, most doctors say that a child can be in school if he/she feels well enough, after the rash appears. Your child may have infected quite a few people in the couple of weeks before the rash appeared, so don't be surprised if some of her classmates come down with it, too. And she obviously got it someplace, probably one to three weeks before she showed symptoms.

Now, please understand that I'm not a doctor, and I haven't met your child, so I may be off base in my suspicions about what she has. However, your child's age and symptoms strongly suggest Fifth Disease, and you may want to ask your pediatrician about it.

Sharon

[beckyww]

Totally vote for Fifth Disease. My three eldest all had it - in fact, so did I about 10 years ago.

Don't let her sweat. Salt hurts like a son of a gun.

Becky
This Reminds Me

[waiter]

Are you still doing the Benadryl with the Zyrtec? Benadryl is very sedating and an antihistamine like the Zyrtec. Most times Zyrtec is only given once a day and dosed at bedtime to lessen the side effects of sedation. If you don't think it is 5ths think about anything that might have changed for her that could be a possible allergy. Shampoo, hair spray, lotions? Did she use something from a friend at school before the reaction? Does she have earrings- anything new? Some people have problems with different metals in jewelry. Good luck

[amyfk]

Man so sorry to hear this especially that you got it while having fun at Sesame Place. I hope your child is feeling better real soon! What a bummer and how upsetting.
Amy K, NJ

[MamaChinch]

Oh no, sure hope she is feeling better soon!