Chickpox: Similar Diseases

Specialties Pediatric

Published

My 9 year old son has chicken pox like red spots all over the trunk of his body but nowhere else. Each of his armpits are one big red blotch. His appetite is normal as is his behavior and energy level. He has no headache or fever or nausea or itching or pain or chills or sensitivity to light. He had a mild case of chicken pox at age 2 when his entire day-care class had chicken pox. The number of red spots exceed 50 spots and appear too prolific to be bug bites especially since the spots are limited to the area under his shirt and underwear. The spots have no crusting. The blotches under his armpits have been there for about two weeks. The spots appeared this week. His pediatrician has seen him but no diagnosis has been made yet other than to quarantine him. The pediatrician has seen two other similar cases in the last week but the doctor thought those cases involved children that had a reaction to a recent chickenpox vacine. Are there other diseases similar to chicken pox with no other symptoms than red spots?

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Are there other diseases similar to chicken pox with no other symptoms than red spots?

Fifth's Disease?

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I have seen several cases of Fifths and the description of the child's rash is not consistant with it.

I have seen strep express itself in some really funky ways (including no fever or sore throat)...have you looked in his throat?

What has the weather been like? Coulsd it be a heat rash?

Another possibility is an allergic reaction to laundry detergent or fabric softener which is most common in areas where the clothes are snugger on the body (shirts, socks & underpants).

You didn't say how long since the Ped saw him, I think 2 weeks is a bit long without answers, since the rash has changed If he were *my child* I would take him back and be pushy for an answer.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

If you recently changed detergents, change back. And please take him back to the doc. Poor thing.

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Has your son had a cold lately? Many viruses manifest themselves in the form of a rash.

I have also seen a kid with scarlett fever who was asymptomatic other than the rash. Mom only brought the kid in to be evaluated because the sib had just been treated for it.

I agree with everyone else, have him re-evaluated.

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