When is a spot not a spot?
It’s often tough to tell if your child’s spots are just itchy and sore or a symptom of something more sinister. Here Jackie Hall, team leader of Health at Hand nurses for AXA PPP healthcare, gives the lowdown on which spots to worry about
Any new parent will tell you that spots can make them anxious, and even the more experienced ones can still have sleepless nights over unusual rashes.
It’s not easy for parents to know whether a rash or skin changes indicate a serious medical problem and whether further medical assessment is needed.
A rash can give a clue to the type of illness but other signs and symptoms are just as important in determining how serious an illness may be.
Here is a lists some of the most common spots and rashes to watch out for:
What do I need to look for?
A child with meningitis would normally be very unwell with reddish/purple spots which look a little like tiny fresh bruises on the skin. The key is that these do not blanch in colour when you press on them.
The glass test is a very useful way to check. This is if you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin and the rash doesn’t fade, it’s a sign of blood poisoning (septicaemia) and you should seek medical attention immediately.
The rash may be harder to see on darker skin so check for spots on the paler areas, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or the abdomen.
How is it treated?
If meningitis is suspected then the child must go immediately to an accident and emergency department.
Is it contagious?
Bacterial meningitis can be contagious and you will be advised by the professionals looking after your child of actions that need to be taken.
Measles is a highly infectious, unpleasant viral illness that has some characteristic features to distinguish it from other viruses. Furthermore, it has the potential to cause serious complications.
What do I need to look for?
A mass of red spots break out around the neck, behind the ears and face but can appear elsewhere too, including the inside of the mouth.
Measles can result in serious complications, but thanks to vaccination programmes the incidence of outbreaks is low.
Initial symptoms of measles can include:
■ A runny or blocked nose
■ Sneezing
■ Watery eyes
■ Swollen eyelids
■ Sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
■ A fever
■ Small greyish white spots in the mouth
■ Aches and pains
■ Cough
■ Loss of appetite
■ Tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
How is it treated?
You should contact your GP as soon as possible if you suspect that you or your child has measles.
It’s best to phone before your visit as your GP surgery may need to make some arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
There’s no specific treatment for measles, but the condition usually improves within seven to 10 days.
If the symptoms of measles are causing discomfort for you or your child, there are some things - you can do to treat these while you wait for your body to fight off the virus.
■ Rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
■ Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to reduce a fever and relieve any aches or pains if you or your child is uncomfortable. (Aspirin should not be given to children under 16). Speak to your pharmacist if you are not sure which medications are suitable for you child.
Is it contagious?
Stay away from work or school for at least four days from when the measles rash first appears to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
It’s important to avoid contact with people who are more vulnerable to the infection, such as young children and pregnant women.
You can avoid catching measles by having the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Measles is unlikely in people who are fully immunised or who have previously contracted the infection.
Vaccination with one dose of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine should provide about 90% immunity.
However, vaccination with two doses of the MMR vaccine, as indicated by the UK Childhood Immunisation Programme, is thought to provide close to 100% lifelong immunity.
What do I need to look for?
This is usually a mild illness with small red spots appearing on the face at first and then spreading to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms include swollen glands and a cold-like illness. It’s rarely seen nowadays in the UK, thanks to routine vaccination.
It is, however, of serious concern if a pregnant woman catches the virus in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy because it can cause birth defects in her baby.
How is it treated?
You should always contact your GP if you suspect rubella. It’s best to phone before your visit as your GP surgery may need to make some arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
There’s no specific treatment for rubella. The condition is usually mild and improves without treatment within seven to 10 days.
If the symptoms of rubella are causing discomfort for you or your child, there are some things you can do while you wait for the infection to pass:
■ Rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
■ Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to reduce a fever and relieve any aches or pain. (Aspirin should not be given to children under 16). Speak to your pharmacist if you are not sure which medications are suitable for you child.
Is it contagious?
While you have rubella, it’s important to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
If you or your child has the condition, you should avoid work or school for four days from when you first develop the rubella rash.
In rare cases, rubella can cause serious problems in an unborn baby, so you should also try to avoid contact with pregnant women for four days from the start of the rash.
If you are pregnant and develop a rash or have been in contact with