Clara's Rashes

She doesn't have one at this time, but I've been asked about Clara's rashes on a couple of ocassions now, including this morning, so I thought I'd document them on here for future reference.


She's had two, the first one was when she was 7 months old. I diagnosed it as Roseola and several other more seasoned mothers agreed with the diagnosis. She ran a fever on a Tuesday night, which I assumed was because of teething. She had no other symptoms and then a rash appeared on her torso as small red bumps on Friday morning. It spread to her arms, legs and I want to say she had it on her face, but I don't recall. It never itched and as is the case with viral rashes, she wasn't contagious once the rash appeared, only when she was running a fever. It took about a week for it to go away. (The bump on her back in the second photo is a hemangioma, not the rash.)

She got the second one when she was 13 months old. It happened the same way, a fever and then the rash developed several days later. This one was slightly different, so I wasn't sure it was Roseola. It didn't seem to match up to other rashes I was seeing pictures of online and it wouldn't go away. After about 2 weeks I finally took her in to the doctor because Chris' mom was coming to stay with her while Chris and I were in Orlando and I didn't want her having to deal with it. This was Clara's first doctor's visit other than her well check ups. And she hasn't been back since. I kinda wish I hadn't taken her in because we would be going on two years without a doctor's visit. That would be a nice record. That and all the sick kids and germs we were wading in in the waiting room combined with a nice couple hour wait. Next time she's gonna be sick sick before I take her in.

Anyway, the doctor diagnosed it as Fifth's Disease, but I'm not quite convinced that's what it was. Fifth's Disease's signature symptom is really red cheeks, like they've been slapped and the rash is described as being lacy, or splotchy in appearance. Her's was raised bumps. She said that the bumps on her face and the reason it wasn't clearing up was that it was an eczema flare up. Sure enough, a little hydocortisone cream and she was right as rain after a few days. (The hydrocortisone was for the eczema, not the rash. There's no treatment for a viral rash.)

I honestly don't remember if it was all over her body or just on her face. That's the great thing about a blog, I would've surely written down all the details if I'd started writing one earlier. Anyway, enjoy the next pic of Clara in all of her loveliness.