Resolved question:
Hello. I have a five year old male child with flu-like symptoms over the last 3 days...
Day 1 - lethargy 101 - 102 fever controlled with Tylenol, no appetite, sore throat
Day 2 - lethargy, controlled fever, very sore throat and does not want to swallow
Today - more active, eating again, fever down to low grade 99 range, but still sore throat... and he broke out in a red rash all over abdomen...
I am worried about strep and scarlet fever, but he did perk up a lot today. My only option for care over a holiday weekend is the emergency room. Do I need to have him evaluated immediately?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pediatrician
Dear parent,
Thank you for your consult at DoctorSpring.com.
Your description of your child's symptomatology is spot-on and accurate. It fits well into the natural history of strep. The rash is also suggestive. Get your child's throat examined by a pediatrician as soon as possible. Clinical evidence of strep infection include palatal petechiae, congested pharynx and tender cervical lymph nodes.
Clues to scarlet fever could be presence of a beefy red tongue, sand paper rash and pastia lines on the skin. So go ahead and take him to the pediatric emergency.
Hope that this helps you decide.
Regards
Dr Saptharishi
MBBS, MD (Pediatrics), PGDCRL