Medical Problem. Unknown Rash

Forums › Off topic › Medical Problem. Unknown Rash - Need advice!

makmak

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#63863 3-Jul-2010 21:34

Hey there,

My sister is one years old, was discharged from Waikato hospital just over 2 weeks ago and from Starship about a month before that.

She presented with a rare ecoli infection called HUS. She was in Startship PICU for 11days then up to the ward, then transferred closer to home (Waikato Hospital).

She was discharged with medication and was much better.(warfarin & others for high blood pressure)

Tuesday this week she started to show small light red dots around her neck area. From Wednesday to Thursdays those spots multiplied around her entire body and started to show a small lump. She was taken to to the Docs on Wednesday and the Doc advised it was a rash.

We were in auckland on Thursday and decided to get a secod opinion as the rash was getting worse, and close around her eye lids....

This rash dosent seem to bother her one bit, she is still her same happy self, she dosent even try to scratch it at all. Its just how it looks to us that make us worry...

The Doc in auckland could not identify what the rash was and we were referred to Auckland Hospital...

After all the basic checks at the hospital, blood pressure, temperature, weight ect, we were in a separate room for 5 hours incase it was contageous. After 2 docs, they wanted us to wait for another doc who wasnt around we ha to leave because she needed her meds so we went back to the place we were staying at..

The only advice we manage to get from auckland hospital docs was thats its a chickepox like rash, but wasnt sure. And we decided to just monitor her.

She needed a INR blood test today, so we had this done at the ward she was discharged from at Waikato and we had the docs look at her.

A doc, and other not docs thought it
might be miesels and when they thought of this outcome they were eager to get us out of there.
I have searched for details on the miesels and the only symptom she presented with was that she had this rash from head to toe, no runny nose or fever, or anything else....

The rash is like dots that have lumped up and now getting crust like, verry close to the eyes aroud the back of the ear are the worse places....

Now I am wanting advice, is there anywhere in particular I can go to, or anyone i can send pictures to, to figure out what the rash is so we no how to treat it.

Have ben trying things like mi-cream and foban..

Any advice would be much appreciated

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

wmoore

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#347577 3-Jul-2010 22:34

Sorry to hear about your sister. The only thing I can thing of, is the rash a side effect of the medication she is taking ?

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makmak

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#347580 3-Jul-2010 22:56

Thanks for that, I highly unlikely think its a side effect. She had been taking these meds over two weeks before the rash turned up...

Thanks for taking the time in ready my post.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

freitasm

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#347583 3-Jul-2010 23:15

IANAD... Roseola (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseola)? Seriously though, you should probably look for a private GP again.

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heavenlywild

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#347585 3-Jul-2010 23:20

I agree with the Supreme Bean, you should seek another GP for advice. I would avoid looking around the internet for medical info as it often can lead you down a very depressing and incorrect path.

MickeyD

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#347589 3-Jul-2010 23:37

Have you considered trusting the opinion of the numerous doctors who she has already seen? Each of them would have studied medicine for the better part of a decade and are likely to have a better idea than people posting in a computing forum.

Certainly, there are few conditions that can be diagnosed solely from a rash. However, many different conditions will present with a rash as one sign - sometimes the only sign - and often the cause of the rash will never be known. Sending a picture of a rash to someone won't get you the help that you need - the rash should be taken in context the full clinical picture. The doctors took her obs, and examined your sister. Better yet, she is still well in herself. I can't imagine given her age and her history that all the health professionals you've seen wouldn't be more cautious if there was even a question of something serious going on. All of these factors should be reassuring. However, if her condition changes you must get her checked out again.

I don't mean to come across as being negative, but all too often we ignore the advice of professionals and listen to the opinion of those who don't actually know what they're talking about.

That said, I'm posting an answer about a rash on a computing forum, so take my advice as you will ;-)

makmak

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#347591 4-Jul-2010 00:00

The only reason with the medical professionals advice is that all of them are unsure of what they think it might be... Saying thats its a Chickenpox look a like rash is not enough information for my understanding.

When We received their medical opinion neither of the medical professionals sounded confident in what they thought it might be.

We will continue toonitor er closely, only now the rash is like getting very crusty which is causing her eyes to stay closed, and we have clear eyes to help in this situation.

Depending on how she is tomorrow we will be visiting more GP's on Monday to try and figure out what exactly this rash is in relation to...

Absolutely aware not to trust in all opinions posted in this online forum, but any information does help in some way or another..

Thanks for your replies

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

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patatrat

261 posts

Ultimate Geek

#347593 4-Jul-2010 00:25

Two things came to mind while reading this. The first has already been said - ask a doctor, not a website.

The second thing is, you have published on the internet medical details of someone. I am assuming that you are not their legal guardian.

I don't know your legal rights when it comes to publishing your sister's medical details, but I would question if it is the right thing for you to be doing.

I don't think it is appropriate to be putting this sort of information on a public facing site about your sister, especially if the name you've used is your actual name.

Other people may have different opinions about this, but the idea of someone publishing my medical details makes me uncomfortable. I'm sure that I would not want my current friends (or employers) to know about a rash or infection I had when I was one. They don't, as the internet wasn't really around then. But it is around now. And I have every faith that Mauricio will ensure Geekzone is around for the next 20 years (and beyond). How will your sister feel about finding this post when she is old enough to 'google'?

This isn't anything bad in the post you wrote. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your sister that millions of other babies haven't gone through. But the idea you have decided to put this information out there (when she and, I assume, their legal guardian, hasn't okayed it) makes me uncomfortable.

kontonnz

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#347600 4-Jul-2010 01:54

I have to agree with whats been said above seeking medical advice over the internet can be dangerous, but using the Internet to ask questions of your doctor can be useful.

in saying that, from everything you've described my first guess would be measles, the fact that you said the rash started from small red dots at random locations around the body, in measles these red dots usually will transition from a red dot to a lesion after about a week the lesion will crust up and scab over. If your sister has measles then the best advice is what the doctors have probably already given your parents which is let it run its course and bring her back if she become uncomfortable or develops a fever. A pharmacist can also help provide advice on creams that will help relieve the symptoms.

NZtechfreak

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#347622 4-Jul-2010 09:40

I'm a doctor, but its pretty hard to give advice in a forum, especially without even seeing the rash! The history you give of them starting as dots, growing, and then crusting does indeed sound a lot like chicken pox, with chicken pox though you only get new lesions cropping for 5-6 days ordinarily so if new ones have been appearing outside of this timeframe alternate diagnoses become more likely. Usually chickenpox in itself is a self-limiting illness, but it can be severe and have complications that need addressing - for example if its encroaching on the eyes.

Bottom line, everyone is right --> see a GP.

I'd stop throwing antibacterial and antifungal creams at it while you don't know what it is too.

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urban

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#348899 7-Jul-2010 22:38

Any improvements to your sis?

Jaxson

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#348951 8-Jul-2010 08:41

NZtechfreak: I'd stop throwing antibacterial and antifungal creams at it while you don't know what it is too.

Agreed. Get this diagnosis wrong and all you are doing is giving the infection a nice moist/warm place to multiply.

When I see a post like this I am reminded of how isolated you can feel at times when dealing with the medical institutions in NZ with anything not immediately obvious. I'm figuring you've turned here on the off chance someone may be able to assist in anyway. That's commendable, but really you should be turning your efforts back towards those more qualified and able to contribute.

Good luck and hopefully you get this diagnosed and dealt with quickly and cheaply I/we hope as well.

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Oblivian

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#348989 8-Jul-2010 09:44

Slightly OT.. I had stuff like that when I ended up with shingles at Age 27 (only a few years ago). And boy, I do not wish Shingles (variant of chicken pox virus that resides dormant in the base of your spine) on ANYONE that can feel the full effect of it.

I being the typical male brushed off being itchy to a reaction and never saw a doc. Until it spread and got worse. I used google foo to self diagnose what started to go brown and crusty and sore to touch. Confirmed diagnosis by a doc visit, but by then it was too late for treatment. Onto the 40mg Codeine tabs I went.

Blisters with direct stimulus connection to the nerve endings under your skin. You figure out how sore that was to have ANYTHING touch them, including clothing and bed linnen :(

geek4me

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#349015 8-Jul-2010 10:44

Without showing the face of your sister perhaps a close up photo of the rash on a suitable medical website might give some medical responses?

I'm wary of website diagnoses which I'm sure you are too but someone may recognise the condition from a picture. Don't put in on Geekzone.

makmak

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#349022 8-Jul-2010 11:04

Good morning, and thank you all for your replies.

My sister is currently and has been in Hospital for the past few days.

She has seen several doctors in hospital including a dermatologist.

At this stage her rash is still unknown and are awaiting test that suppose to take 3 - 5 days or around that time period.

As I am only her Brother, in my house hold I am practically a caregiver, which must sound weird at my age, but its true.

Mother is aware of this forum. No personal details can link my sister to this forum as it does not have sufficient information. Surname are different ect.

Will keep you updated on her status, and the name of the actual rash when it comes to hand.

Thanks

Mak

graemeh

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#349104 8-Jul-2010 14:56

Good luck Mak, as you're seeing real life is not like TV. The doctors can't always diagnose the problem in a day. Sometimes they will never work out what it was if it goes away. Often they can only treat the symptoms.