Pictures of Mystery Rash

Superstar changed his mind about pictures. These pictures were taken at the beginning and in the middle of last week. He over all looks a lot better now. His ears are clear, most of his arm and legs are clear. His face is still rough looking but it's better too. (You can click on them to see bigger pictures)

Mystery Rash: Solved? We hope!

Superstar still has his rash, bumps, spots, whatever you want to call them. When they first appeared on April 9th, I felt as if it was chickenpox. Later that day I learned it was NOT chickenpox, but an unknown virus.

The following Wednesday we went back to the doctor's office. That doctor agreed with the previous diagnosis that it was a viral, unknown origin. However that doctor did give us a steroid cream for it. In addition Superstar has been given benadyrl 3 times a day and an oatmeal bath every night. We were told if he had not cleared up by Monday to see a dermatologist.

So here it is Monday and Superstar still has his rash. I wish I could post pictures here on the blog for you all, but I promise Superstar that I would not. The steroid cream did cause the rash to go "flat", seeing it was raised, but that was the only change to it.

The dermatologist today said it was NEVER an viral infection. That the rash on Superstar is an allergic reaction to a plant. What plant we do not know. It's been already 1.5 weeks and honest I don't remember what and where we have been. In addition there is real no way of knowing what plant unless we are fully aware of what he got himself into.

Let me tell you that has been so frustrating. We for the last 1.5 weeks have been home. We've gone NO WHERE! No church, No co-ops, No field trips, because we were under the impression that it was viral and because it was an unknown virus we didn't know if he was contagious or not. I didn't want to expose him to others, because I didn't want him to pass on the virus. Some virus you are no longer contagious once you break out, others you are still contagious until rash scabs over. So he just didn't know and was working on the side of caution "better save then sorry".

We were given a new stronger cream today to put on his rash and hopefully that will clear it up. At least we now know that we can be around people! This means tomorrow we are going to our homeschool co-op! Thank God!

Rash is getting worst!

Superstar's rash/spots caused by what the doctor's feel to be an unknown virus has gotten worst. I wish I can post pictures, but I promised Superstar that I would not post them on the blog. His face, neck, ears, arms, hands, feet, and legs are covered. He has a handful on his back and tummy, but mostly it's on his face, neck, ears, arms, hands, feet, and legs.

I took him in to the doctor's office again today. We discussed the possibility that he was exposed to something environmental, and determined that was unlikely. I asked about bug bites, (maybe fleas seeing we have the dog) and that was ruled out.

I brought up the possibility of Rosella, and got told No, because Rosella is flat not raised. Pox: chickenpox, smallpox, things of that nature would be raised.  As a matter of fact the doctor, today, said that it effecting his arms, legs, head is characteristic of smallpox. That's one of the major differences between smallpox and chickenpox. The two are often confused, but smallpox effects mostly the arms, legs, head, where chickenpox effects mostly the torso (back/belly).

 Image Source: Wikipedia

With that in mind the doctor said it was NOT smallpox or anything like that because Superstar is not sick. He has NO fever, NO vomiting, NO other signs of illness. As a matter of fact if it wasn't for the rash you wouldn't know he was sick. He also was NOT sick prior to the rash. He just woke up with it last Friday.

While at the doctor's office web-princess vomits all over me with the doctor in the room. The doctor, response: "Now isn't that interesting and did a quick scan to see if she had spots". He then said if she gets worst or develops spots to be sure to let them know."

Because it's viral there is nothing they can give him. However they did give me a steroid cream to put on his spots. Hoping it might help clear them up. If he's not cleared up by Monday then we have to see a dermatologist.

Nothing is worst then seeing your child covered in these spots and not knowing what they are or how to help treat them. I understand there is no medicine for a virus, but it would be nice to have a name to it. Naming it would give us an idea of how long it would take to clear up.

Update: Chickenpox??

So this morning I was sure that Superstar had chickenpox. However after seeing the PA AND the doctor it's clear it is not chickenpox. That is the only thing we are clear on!

It clearly is a viral infection that is causing the lesions on his body. However the doctor and PA do NOT know what virus it is. They can't even tell me if he's contagious. They said it's not any common childhood viral infection. Some virus you are no longer contagious once you get a skin rash, others you are still contagious for several days after the rash appears. 

His ears (besides the lesions) are clear, his lungs are clear, his throat is clear, no fever, everything else is normal.  I got told most likely it, the rash/lesions will get worst before it gets better. That if it starts to itch to give him some benedryl and to just montior him.

Even though is throat is clear he wants only smooth foods. I shared that with the PA AND the doctor. They said the perhaps there is a minor irritation but it looks clean. In addition if you ask him if he has a sore throat he will tell you NO. I know as his mom something isn't right when he overly comments on how smooth water is! Or is saying he wants something smooth to eat like soup, yogurt.

Web-princess said soup! Do you want grill cheese and tomato soup? Superstar No grill cheese but tomato soup sounds good. That right there is my clue something not right with his throat. This kid never turns down grill cheese.

They would only want to see him now if it doesn't start to clear up in a week or 2, or if he develops other symptoms like fever, sore throat, upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. I got told that most likely it would be okay to send him back to school on Monday. I mention to the PA then that we homeschool so I'm not worried about sending him back, I'm worried about being able to go on some field trips and stuff I have plan on Tuesday with our homeschool co-op.

The PA then did offer that if I needed to I could call her on Monday and go back in and have her look at him again if I was still worried about the possiblity of him being contagious on Tuesday. So I don't know!

Chickenpox??

I suspect that Superstar HAS chickenpox. At least that is what it looks like to me. I called our doctor's office this morning to get their input and they said to come in and have him look. (They don't think it can even be chickenpox because he did have the vaccine for it.) We'll know for sure in a few hours and I'll post an update then!

Symptoms:
red spots everywhere: face, ears, legs, arms, hands, belly, back, etc
Most of them are just red spots but the ones on his face and ears are the worst. They look kinda pimply.

He really isn't running a fever now and to my knowledge he didn't have a fever before. However after talking to my mom this morning she said when we were kids and had it our fevers were low grade and we for the most part were still active wanting to go outside and stuff like that.

Part of my is dreading going in because of the last time we were at the doctors when he was sick.  The nurse then told me "You homeschool so how did he get sick?" I can almost hear it now "You homeschool so how did he get chickenpox?" (If they confirm that it is indeed chickenpox).

With comments like that I just want to repsond  with "Just because we homeschool doesn't mean we are hermits. We do go to the store, other dr offices, church, homeschooling co-ops, parks, etc. They do play sports and are around other kids. DUH!!!!"

Okay so I'm projecting what happen the last time around on this upcoming visit. I have never had issues at my normal doctor's office, so I'm sure we will be fine.  I just wish they would have said over the phone "Yep sound like chickenpox and do xyz, but I know they can't really do that anymore because of fear of being sued."

More to come later.....