HELP! I need some quick advice about a rash!

**nuisance26** · 09-20-2007, 08:49 PM

My dd woke up from her nap with small welts on her legs and one on her face. She's always had sensitive skin so I'm thinking that these welts are spider bites. We're using topical hydrocortisone and oral Benedryl. She's acting fine, just itchy but it looks really scary to me. The skin on her calf and thigh is swollen still. Does anyone think this could be anything else, other than a severe reaction to bug bites?

**pita1213** · 09-20-2007, 08:53 PM

the picture isn't really clear, but just from the size of the welt, i'd get it looked at. too late to get to teh doc, but if your insurance covers a walk in clinic or urgent care, i'd go get it looked at tonight.
if it turns out to just be a reaction to the bug bite, they maybe able to give you something to help speed the healing.

**Missy** · 09-20-2007, 09:09 PM

ouch, poor baby. From the looks it covers most if not all of her lower leg. If it's bugging her pain wise, i'd give her tylenol and benadryl and take her to a after hours clinic or the doc as quickly as you can.

it;s probably just a bite or a reaction, but with little ones you never know.

**Jaded** · 09-20-2007, 09:51 PM

I'm not thinking spiders, I'm thinking bedbugs, since you said she woke up with them. Or maybe fleas, if you have pets indoors. Check out her bed THOROUGHLY, look especially in the corners of the bindings, and see if you see anything. You may have to use a magnifying glass.

My son had flea bites once on the backs of his legs from sitting on a blanket the cat had slept on. It was horrible, and took forever to go away!

Unfortunately, the Dr. said all we could do was the hydrocortisone and benadryl.

**frugalfarmwife** · 09-20-2007, 10:00 PM

Does it look like a bite near the back of her leg near the ankle, that is what it looks like in the picture that I can see. Can you see a definate spot where the skin was broken?

I personally don't like the amount of swelling I see there, I'd go to a Dr on this one. If it's an allergic reaction I'd prefer to have her seen by a professional just to be safe.

And honestly if you can't find a specific bite area it could even be an allergic reaction to something she's been exposed to or something she's eaten.

Keep us updated!

kj

**became4347** · 09-20-2007, 10:29 PM

Are the swollen areas warm to the touch? I would get her to the doctor ASAP. The swelling is not good, and it looks like there are small streaks forming.

A few months ago, my 9 yo nephew somehow got a staph infection in his leg. Don't know where it came from, but it started just like this. He also had a couple of smaller spots on his upper body and face. We, too, thought it was just bug bites as he also has sensitive skin. Then a couple days later my sister noticed he was kinda favoring that leg as he was walking home from the bus stop after school. Took him to the doctor and sure enough it was a staph infection. The Dr said it was a good thing she brought him in because these infections can get dangerous really fast.

I'm not trying to scare you, but get her to a doctor tonight.

**YankeeMom** · 09-20-2007, 10:48 PM

It looks more like hives.
Could there be something in the bath, new soap, lotion afterwards or even laundry detergent?

If benedryl isn't helping, I'd see about getting her to a dr. It could even be cellulitis. Is it sore to the touch or itchy?

**frugalfarmwife** · 09-20-2007, 11:03 PM

Oh geez can't believe I didn't think of the cellulitis, had a NASTY bout of it last year in my right foot/leg, I agree, to the Dr. she should go!

Cellulitis is an infection of the lower skin level and trust me NOT fun! I didn't even feel it at first but my foot was kind of numb, looked down and one foot/ankle was more than twice the size of the other with streaks going up my leg, now I NEVER go to the Dr. but that one SCARED ME! Got hubby off the tractor and got my butt to the ER right away! A round of antibiotics cleared it right up.

kj

**Buckeye5** · 09-21-2007, 07:46 AM

MyDD gets hives on a regular basis, especially after sleeping when she is hot. It is red, swollen, and warm to touch. She also, has sensitive skin, and the doctors say it is allergies, and her sweat glands not opening properly, we have battled with this for 18 years. We have found that the Sarna cream which is an OTC medicine, but you have to ask the pharmacist, works the best. I would have a doctor check it first, but if unable to do this, buy the sarna cream. It is a little pricey but works.

**YankeeMom** · 09-21-2007, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfarmwife

Oh geez can't believe I didn't think of the cellulitis, had a NASTY bout of it last year in my right foot/leg, I agree, to the Dr. she should go!

Cellulitis is an infection of the lower skin level and trust me NOT fun! I didn't even feel it at first but my foot was kind of numb, looked down and one foot/ankle was more than twice the size of the other with streaks going up my leg, now I NEVER go to the Dr. but that one SCARED ME! Got hubby off the tractor and got my butt to the ER right away! A round of antibiotics cleared it right up.

kj

Yeah, dd got cellulitis in her hand. It happened soooo fast. We were in the grocery store, she was holding the cart the whole time. Then we got up to the register & she was helping me load the stuff on the counter and I noticed her hand was twice the size of normal

Took her to the dr and they said cellulitis. They said she probably got a spider bite that got infected somehow. She is also very sensitive to bug bites. Spider & mosquito bites look like bruises on her.

Antibiotics is the only way to 'cure' cellulitis. And left untreated it can be devastating to the tissues/skin.

**lwlynch** · 09-21-2007, 08:21 AM

I would take her to the Doctor the large streaks at the top of the calf don't look very good. Definately an allergic reaction to something. You know Ticks leave those rings too. Not trying to scare you, just throwing some ideas out. Keep us posted, please..

**DAAC3DEC** · 09-21-2007, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by became4347

Are the swollen areas warm to the touch? I would get her to the doctor ASAP. The swelling is not good, and it looks like there are small streaks forming.

A few months ago, my 9 yo nephew somehow got a staph infection in his leg. Don't know where it came from, but it started just like this. He also had a couple of smaller spots on his upper body and face. We, too, thought it was just bug bites as he also has sensitive skin. Then a couple days later my sister noticed he was kinda favoring that leg as he was walking home from the bus stop after school. Took him to the doctor and sure enough it was a staph infection. The Dr said it was a good thing she brought him in because these infections can get dangerous really fast.

I'm not trying to scare you, but get her to a doctor tonight.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS!!!!

**baxjul** · 09-21-2007, 10:05 AM

I would go to the doctor!!!!!

**nuisance26** · 09-21-2007, 10:26 AM

~Thank you so much everybody for your experience and advice! After asking the question I gave her a larger dose of Benedryl then did some more reading. Within an hour the swelling was almost gone. She's just fine this morning! It's hard to tell from the pic(hard to get a pic of a squirming toddler!), but many of those lines are scratch marks. I'm almost certain now that it was hives. We don't keep pets and we've thouroughly examined where she was sleeping for signs of bugs but we see nothing. She did have a slight fever and a cranky day 2 days ago so that could be the trigger. I talked to my mom and apparantly her sister is very prone to hives and will break out on stress alone.I will, however, keep a close eye on her in the coming days just to make sure it isn't serious. Thanks again everybody! Nothing like a little 'mommy' panic!

~

**Jaded** · 09-21-2007, 11:03 AM

I'm sooooooooo glad she's better! I used to get hives from stress when I was little, and once I scratched my legs so bad, I got impetigo! It was horrible!

You're a great mommy.