What IS that??

It's the parent's universal reaction whenever a child develops a very visible and very bright red rash.

Kids can and commonly do develop all sorts of rashes, with typical causes ranging from poison ivy, insect bites, fungal infections (such as ringworm) to more now rare cases of German Measles.

Even the most commonly used and trusted items can cause rashes. Many lotions that are meant to soothe rashes contain lanolin — which can irritate the skin of babies who are sensitive to this oily ingredient and cause the rash to get worse.

In a well publicized case, Carter's, a very respected children's clothing manufacturer, ran into a problem with their fall 2007 catalog. There were reports that babies with very sensitive skin were having allergic reactions to the heat-transferred, or tag-less, labels used in the baby clothing.

"It appears that a very small percentage of children can be allergic to one or more ingredients in the labels. The solid, rather than stenciled, background on the fall 2007 labels appears to have produced a more pronounced and noticeable reaction among those children who are most allergic to the ink," the company's announcement said.

Thankfully, a majority of rashes that appear in infants and young children are non-life threatening and usually go away by themselves or with the aid of medications. Creams & lotions may also be prescribed to help soothe an accompanying painful burn or itch.

It's also important that all parents recognize more serious rashes or lesions such as those seen in the Lyme, the blotchy red petechia or purpura rash(caused by bleeding under the skin), or a similar condition related to meningitis which appears in that disease's later stages.

Disclaimer
Nurse's Corner does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images and other material are intended for informational and educational purposes only and not for the purpose of rendering medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.