What are these red spots on my skin?

Symptoms:

You have red, itchy bumps on your legs and arms. If you scratch them the bumps get bigger and the itching gets worse. You recently visited a relative who has several cats.

You have a red rash covering most of your body, a high fever, swollen lymph glands and a sore throat.

You have a red, blotchy rash which is very itchy and came on a week after you started taking antibiotics for a urinary infection.

It could be:

Fleabites which usually come up soon after you’ve been bitten. They can appear like a nettle rash with a red halo around the actual bite.

Glandular fever

(infectious mononucleosis) caused by a virus (Epstein-barr) usually spread through bodily fluids, including semen, blood and saliva, hence why it’s called the kissing disease.

A drug allergy to your medication which may be accompanied by fever and trouble breathing. It’s not always dangerous but troubled breathing needs urgent attention.

Stop it:

Symptomatic treatment with a cooling lotion like calamine will suffice, but the real cure is to get rid of the fleas on the cats. If several are flea-ridden the whole house will need to be fumigated.

The infection is usually not serious and goes away on its own in one or two months. If symptoms persist see your doctor for blood tests.

If you have any breathing problems go to A&E, otherwise visit your doctor ASAP and show them the rash so the allergy can go into your medical notes. Antihistamines are often enough to cure your symptoms but you must avoid the drug you took in the future.