# Parents- some advise please! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752 "2000-09-27T15:45:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/1 "2000-09-27T15:45:20Z")
In a previous thread, I got lots of good advice about my son’s coughs & stuff. Now, the kid is really overachieving! The cough took it’s time, but finally morphed into both a slight ear infection and tonsilitis! Poor kid seems to feel ok now, but for a couple of days he had a sustained 102 temp that made him feel pretty miserable. Now here’s the part that I don’t get- he now appears to have some sort of virus that is resulting in this rash all over! When it started on his face, the substitute doctor said it might be a reaction to the amoxicillan, and to stop giving it to him. If it was a reaction, it would go away. But if it’s a viral thing, it will work it’s way down his body before disappearing. Well gee, I guess it’s a viral thing! The poor kid is covered with spots! He is perfectly comfortable, no itching or fever, he just looks a little scary. The doctor says it will probably run it’s course in a few more days. Am I overly concerned because I’m a first-time mom? Will I tell subsequent kids to “just walk off” a broken leg, I’ll be so jaded? Has this type of thing happened to any of you? Please tell me your stories, I could use the info! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/2 "2000-09-27T15:56:49Z")
Same thing happened with TinyTot - I think the doctor called it a “scarletina rash”. If he’s not itching, the doctor’s not worried and the kid seems happy enough, it’s nothing at all to worry about. Just keep his skin clean and moisturized and he’ll be good to go in no time at all. FWIW, I was once like you! When TinyTot developed his rash, I knew it wasn’t chickenpox so I decided, having never seen measles, that he had measles and rushed him to the ER. I was actually crying - I just knew he’d be maimed for life or worse. I think I called his pediatrician’s office at least once every other day for the first year of his life. I’m way, way more relaxed now…I’ve developed a wait and see what he does first attitude, because he’s now discovered that acting sick=popsicles and special treats. Kids! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/3 "2000-09-27T16:11:41Z")
There are a lot of horrible looking rash-type diseases kids will come down with that are relatively harmless – my daughter caught roseola and looked like hell, but it didn’t even slow her down. Once you’ve taken the child to a doctor who’s pronounced it non-fatal, there’s not too much to do except a) make sure the child is comfortable b) make sure he/she doesn’t expose anyone else and c) wait it out. We’ve always found oatmeal baths to be comforting to the kids at times like that. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/4 "2000-09-27T16:27:51Z")
My 15 mo had roseola a few weeks ago. Our doctor told us that the rash is actually a signal that the course of the disease is pretty much over. ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/5 "2000-09-27T17:44:25Z")
I’m allergic to amoxicillan, and although it’s been a long time since I’ve experienced the reaction, I remember it caused a mild rash and _extremely severe_ itching (the kind that drives you insane). It took a few days to completely go away, and nothing topical would help. If your son doesn’t have any itching or symptoms other than the rash, I would suggest that it might not be a reaction to the medication; however I guess allergies can vary from person to person. ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/6 "2000-09-27T18:15:18Z")
The same thing happened with our youngest recently. I knew what the rash _wasn’t_ but I had no idea what it _was_. I looked through the pictures in out Family Medical Guide and was not reassured to find that it most closely resembled rubella. I had never heard of a “viral rash” before. Our doctor looked closely at her hands and feet, because if it had spread to her palms and soles, it might have been strep, and we would have had to swab her throat to find out. We were very pleased to see that her hands and feet were clear. Getting a throat swab out of a 2 year old is hard enough, but trying to get one from a 2yo who has recently had stitches and is now terrified of anyone in a white coat is nearly impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/7 "2000-09-27T21:00:44Z")
Thanks all, I do feel better about it. The doc took a throat culture yesterday, I get the results this afternoon. Possibly the most painful part of this whole episode- my co-pay per office visit is $30! I blew nearly $100 last week alone! But there is no price too high for making MOMMY feel better, I guess! Baby felt fine all along! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/8 "2000-09-27T21:34:52Z")
My son recently had something called “Fifth Disease.” He had a lacy-like rash, and his cheeks were very flushed. He felt fine, though. Here’s a link if you’re interested: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/parvob19.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/parvob19.htm) ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/9 "2000-09-27T21:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Am I overly concerned because I’m a first-time mom? Will I tell subsequent kids to “just walk off” a broken leg, I’ll be so jaded? As a mother of four I feel qualified to say, uh, yeah. You will either be really calm about everything, or you’ll wind up in the funny farm. When I hear screaming, I just ask if there’s blood. I don’t even want to hear about it unless there’s bleeding. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/10 "2000-09-27T21:45:05Z")
Thanks Rysdad, that sounds just like what my son has. The spots on his cheeks have merged into one big one on each cheek, like he’s been out in the cold (or been slapped, but what a terrible way to describe it!). At least he’s not contagious, but he sure doesn’t look good! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/11 "2000-09-28T00:34:29Z")
EJ’s, A reaction to amox can be a bad, bad thing. Most pediatricians, though, can tell the difference between an allergic reaction and Fifth’s. Let your doctor know what’s going on, OK? If your kiddo’s rash is viral, they may have you re-start the amox…probably from the beginning. Rys ---
**Author:** ![Angkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Angkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angkins)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-some-advise-please/34752/12 "2000-09-28T01:37:17Z")
My daughter had a similar rash which was a reaction to an antibiotic. It didn’t bother her, but it did look awful.