When should I take my child to the doctor for a rash?
Rashes are one of the most common allergic reactions for children, they can be quite itchy and painful, and they often develop due to allergies, viral infections, fungal infections, or even serious medical conditions. First things first, you will want to try and rule out any causes of what may be contributing to the rash on your child(ren), pinpointing a clear cause will allow you to provide more information to the doctor when you take your child in for an appointment. Once you figure out what may be causing the rashes, clean the skin with mild soap gently to clean the child’s skin and help whatever may be causing the rash get off the skin. Pat the skin dry gently, do not scrub, and leave the rash uncovered. You can treat minor rashes with Benadryl, Claritin, or Zytrec depending on the child’s age. You will also want to cut your child’s fingernails or have them wear gloves to go to bed so they will not be able to scratch the rash or make it any worse. If your child’s rash is followed by any of these various symptoms, contact Allergy & Asthma Center immediately to book an appointment: - Rash that isn’t getting better after a few days - Rash that doesn’t get better with over-the-counter treatment - Fever accompanied by a rash - Butterfly-shaped rash that shows up on the nose and cheeks - Under six months of age - Bruises that are not from an injury - Rash that is looking like an oval in shape, or a bull’s eye - Rash that is becoming worse in skin creases - Widespread rash that accompanies enlarged, tender lymph nodes - Non-blanching rash - Swelling occurring in the mouth or on the face - Hives - Not eating well - Changes in their breathing pattern or issues breathing - Rash that is swollen, red, wet, crusty, oozy, or blistering - Rash that begins to peel and is localized on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands - Rash that shows skin sloughing, and involves the inside of the mouth, eyes, or vaginal area