# Weird Symptoms - Opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136 "2023-10-26T17:25:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/1 "2023-10-26T17:25:44Z")
Okay, my department head started getting a tingling in his lower arms and hands yesterday. By today, it had worsened, and he has perfectly round, red spots on his hands the size of a dime. His lower arms also appear to have a reddish rash of some kind. If you apply any pressure to the tingling areas, he feels real pain. He made a doctor’s appointment, but since it has worsened, he is on his way to urgent care. I’m happy with that decision, of course. Still, I am curious if anyone might have an opinion on what in the world might be happening here. My gut says he came in contact with something that has caused some kind of skin reaction, although what that might be I simply don’t know. The fact that this is centering in his lower arms and hands makes me suspect something like that. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/2 "2023-10-26T17:28:32Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > My gut says he came in contact with something that has caused some kind of skin reaction, although what that might be I simply don’t know. - I’d say the odds are pretty near 100%. Are the spots evenly distributed or a random pattern? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/3 "2023-10-26T17:29:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Are the spots evenly distributed or a random pattern? They seem to be random, but the spacing between them is pretty much the same. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/4 "2023-10-26T17:32:30Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > Are the spots evenly distributed or a random pattern? > > They seem to be random, but the spacing between them is pretty much the same. - Are there exposed pipes in the work area? ETA: or faucets or other type of outlets? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/5 "2023-10-26T17:37:07Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Are there exposed pipes in the work area? Not near the kids but, in some places that have tech we need to occasionally access, yes. There is also the possibility this happened at his home. I asked him about what is there and what he did yesterday, but he couldn’t think of a possible cause. I’m thinking that, whatever it was, there might have been just a very small amount somewhere he touched. I’m afraid that, if he doesn’t know what it is and how to avoid it, he might come in contact with it again. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/6 "2023-10-26T17:41:27Z")
Being on both hands and lower arms implies a spray or dispersal of some kind. Get the kids out and call EMS. Better safe than sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/7 "2023-10-26T17:57:29Z")
Appreciate the time and input! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/8 "2023-10-26T17:58:44Z")
Thanks. Let us know what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/9 "2023-10-26T17:59:03Z")
👍 ❤ ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/10 "2023-10-27T15:53:04Z")
Are there any foods he is allergic to? My stepson is allergic to poultry. A while back he was trying a new flavor of Doritos (salsa verde or something like that). A short time later he started breaking out in hives and soon had a huge rash all over his arms and upper body. When he checked the ingredients list, he discovered that they used powdered chicken broth as a flavoring. As he said, “I never thought I’d have to check the ingredients list on Doritos for chicken!” ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/11 "2023-10-30T11:27:42Z")
Interesting! Yes, accidental contact is a daily threat to people with allergies. I have a friend with celiac disease, and there is only a handful of restaurants that she trusts. Still, one day she got sick from eating at a trusted place. Turns out a rookie cook in the kitchen allowed utensils to get mixed, and a trace of wheat/flour tainted the non gluten food section. At any rate, to answer your question, none that I know of. He should be (hopefully) in around 9 this morning, so I’m going to ask what happened at Urgent Care and whether or not anything was resolved. If he doesn’t show up, I’ll call a little later to check. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/12 "2023-10-30T12:16:47Z")
My boss just called. He was diagnosed with, “Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease”! 😳 He started feeling symptoms last Wednesday and, on that previous Sunday, he took his kids to an animal farm where his 3 year old son was petting and kissing animals. He thinks that has to be the place where the disease was picked up. He got spots under his feet, also, and they were very painful, so he really couldn’t walk. He is still at home today, and the spots have turned into blisters. ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/13 "2023-11-02T17:33:14Z")
No animal farm was responsible for this one - HFM is commonly transmitted by human animals (aka little kids are the worst!) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/14 "2023-11-02T17:40:33Z")
I checked and, yep, you’re right! I want to apologize, but the goat has already filed a Defamation of Character law suit. 😳 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/15 "2023-11-02T17:51:24Z")
Yes, Foot and Mouth disease found in farm animals is unrelated to Hand Foot and Mouth suffered by humans: [https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/fmd/index](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/fmd/index) ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/16 "2023-11-03T17:04:01Z")
🤣 🤣 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/17 "2023-11-03T18:26:15Z")
Them kids! Biohazards. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-symptoms-opinions/992136/18 "2023-11-03T18:58:55Z")
Yes! Our school district is a giant Petri Dish. 😳