Spotting the signs of an emergency

GP Dr Zahid Chauhan

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Skin conditions can be unpleasant things to experience. But in most cases, there is no need for a rash rush to Accident and Emergency for treatment – even when they affect children, says Dr Zahid Chauhan, a family doctor at the Dale Medical Practice based within Nye Bevan House.

Two conditions symptomatic with childhood are measles and chickenpox. One in ten children in the UK catches the chickenpox virus, which is characterised by itchy spots (usually under the arms and on the chest and tummy) that turn into fluid-filled blisters. There is no treatment for chickenpox but cooling gels and paracetamol relieve the fever and discomfort.

Also alleviated by mild painkillers and plenty of water, measles usually starts on the head or upper neck and then spreads outwards to the rest of the body and is accompanied by cold-like symptoms.

Both conditions are highly contagious and so making sure there is limited contact with others is advisable. Having the MMR vaccination at one and then four years-of-age, protects your child against measles, mumps and rubella.

Some skin disorders last a little longer and can repeatedly flare up. These include eczema, which affects one in five children in the UK, and psoriasis, which can be particularly unpleasant when at its most severe. Creams, ointments and steroid medication can ease symptoms. Whilst not the main cause in every case, stress can have an impact on both of these conditions. A balanced diet and exercise help manage them too, as obesity results in folds in the skin which trap moisture, making your body a breeding ground for bacteria.

Good personal hygiene can prevent the spread of skin contagions. We may think them long dead, but infections such as ringworm (which produces inflamed ring-like red or silvery patches on the skin) and scarlet fever prevail. A visit to the doctor is a must, as these afflictions may require antibiotics to clear up.

Prickly heat and hives are very common, especially at this time of year. Mild swellings and even blisters can accompany prickly heat, which is caused by the sweat glands being blocked. Hives (otherwise known as urticaria) make the blood vessels in affected areas of the skin open up and become leaky causing itchiness and swelling. In both instances, antihistamines from the pharmacist are effective.

The NHS produces a guide to rashes in children together with pictures of different conditions.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/skin-rash-children/Pages/Introduction.aspx

The page also includes details on perhaps the most worrying of all skin rashes – the one that accompanies meningitis.

Public awareness campaigns have done much to promote the so-called 'glass test'.

This urges us to seek immediate medical advice if, upon pressing the side of a clear glass against the skin, a rash doesn’t fade, check out how to do this by viewing the video below. 

Other symptoms often accompany the pinprick rash which spreads across the body. These include a high temperature, aching muscle joints, breathing problems and even fits. Call for emergency support if ever these conditions present.

The meningitis infection reminds us that skin complaints can be a signifier in serious ill health but for the most part, they are minor if irritable and unpleasant problems. Most are cured by time or a visit to the pharmacist. Some need support from your GP but if we get the itch to visit hospital, we need to be sure that what we have is serious – so that we don’t get under the skin of those who really need emergency help.