While some childhood diseases accompanied by rashes have been eliminated by vaccines, many childhood illnesses and disorders still cause a rash. Rashes can often be diagnosed by when they occur and their appearance. Some viral and infectious rashes occur with fever and other systemic symptoms, while allergic rashes appear after a child ingests or touches a food or plant. Most rashes are self limiting, not serious and require little treatment, pediatrician and author Dr. William Sears notes on his website, Ask Dr. Sears.
Allergic Rashes
Nearly every substance on the planet causes an allergic reaction in someone. Allergic reactions occur when a child touches an allergen such as poison ivy or when he eats a food he's allergic to. Allergic rashes vary considerably, Dr. Sears notes. Eczema, a skin allergy, can look like flat white areas or irritated red raised patches. Eczema often appears in skin folds on young children and on elbows and knees in older children, although patches may occur anywhere. Contact rashes may look like raised, red, crusty bumps or small red pimples. Cortisone creams or oral steroids or antihistamines treat severe allergic rashes.
Fifth Disease
Fifth disease, a human parvovirus, often affects young children in the spring, according to Medline Plus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health. Sometimes called slapped cheek disease because the initial rash resembles slap marks, Fifth disease is mild in children but may cause harm to the fetus in pregnant women. A lacy red rash develops on the arms and legs a day or two after the cheeks turn red and may reappear for several weeks whenever the child gets overheated or stressed.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand foot and mouth disease, a viral illness, causes fever and general feeling sick followed within 1 to 2 days later by the appearance of small spots in the mouth that blister. Within another day, a rash on the hands and soles of the feet develops; the rash may also affect the buttocks and genitalia. The rash consists of red spots that sometimes blister. There's no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease; treatment consists of decreasing the discomfort and fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Roseola
Roseola, a common herpes virus, usually affects children before age 2. Roseola starts with a high fever and cold symptoms for three to five days. Then the fever drops and the rash starts, usually appearing on the back, abdomen and chest and then spreading to the arms and legs. The rash appears as numerous small pink spots. Nearly all children have roseola before age 5, the Mayo Clinic reports. There's no prevention or cure for roseola; making the child more comfortable is the goal of treatment with Tylenol.
