My ds has been sick. He spent all day Monday vomiting and running a low grade fever and we ended up in the ER for six hours early Tuesday morning where he was given saline for dehydration and Zofran to stop the vomiting. Yesterday afternoon he began running a high fever (104 degrees) then he vomited once this morning and still had a fever, but now the fever is gone, the vomiting is gone and he is eating and playing and basically acting normal again. However he has now developed this weird rash all over his body. From head to toe he is bright red. Upon closer inspection his skin is actually mottled looking and there are some small bumps, not all over, but on his arms and patches on his chest, back and bottom, and he says it itches and hurts. Could this be hives and/or a reaction to the illness or the Zofran? I tried calling the ped office (I've called them every day for the past three days and I'm sure they are getting sick of me), but they are closed today and tomorrow. I really don't want to go back to the ER for a rash so I thought I'd ask you ladies what you think the rash is. TIA!

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 02:21 pm:

Could be a reaction, or could it be Roseola?

By Tunnia on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

What is Roseola and is it contagious?

By Kate on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

It doesn't sound like hives. I've never seen bright red from head to toe with hives. A search on Zofran really didn't indicate many side effects, and what you're describing wasn't one of them. Of course some sites were all medical lingo so it was hard to figure out. I would call your doctor's answering service. The person who calls you back will probably be someone you don't know so you won't be embarrassed.

You could also call your pharmacy and tell them your son took zofran and now he has a rash, describe it, and see if they have any info for you. Pharmacists can really be a wealth of info.

By Cat on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 03:17 pm:

Roseola

I thought roseola, too, when I first read this. One of my kids had this when they were about 2 or 3. It went away after a couple of days. {{{{{Hugs}}}}}} to you both.

By Tunnia on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 03:55 pm:

I just got off the phone with the doctor on call and she said that it sounds like a reaction to the Zofran. He did not take the Zofran here at home - they injected it into his IV line in the ER so I don't have an Rx for it. Anyway, the doctor said to watch for blisters or peeling and if he develops either then I need to take him to the ER, but if not then Benadryl should be all he needs. Oh, and I am to bring him in on Friday when the office reopen if he still has the rash, but she (the doctor) feels that it will be gone by then. Thanks so much for your responses!

By Feona on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 04:37 pm:

Could it be scarlet fever? You said it was all over the body. Is it like blisters?

Scarlet fever can be treated very easy now.

By Bethk on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 10:03 pm:

It sounds a little like roseola to me too. It is only the three day measles. Usually an allergic reaction happens a little sooner, especially given through i.v. Who really knows these days with everything that's going around. Good luck and hope he's feeling better.

By Pchydolphin on Monday, January 5, 2004 - 05:43 pm:

My guess would be Roseola. My son had it too last year. First the few days he will have the fever and feel sick, but once the fever disappears the rash shows up, and he feels better. The rash can last up to 2 weeks or more, besides being ichy, it doesn't really bother them. Hope this helps.