3 year old with rash

It started after the zoo trip? or had you noticed some spots before that?

they just looked at the rash and guessed, no tests. And doctors dont always know. My son also had misdiagnosed whooping cough when he was younger because of doctors diagnoses and thoughts on what he had. Thought it was bronchitis, neumonia,etc. This went on for over a month. Until i started researching and took matters into my own hands and found out it was whooping cough he cought from a kid in mississippi. Doctors tested and confirmed it and treated and now my son is better. Not the same doctor we have now, but sometimes doing some research and asking around might help lead to a correct diagnosis. Sometimes even after all the schooling they are still not always correct. It happens we are human, so I would just like some suggestions of things to research and take back to the doctor so we can figure out what this rash is and get it taking care of. I obviously know that getting a diagnosis online is not the first step in caring for my child just trying to find answers that right now the doctor does not have.

When we left the zoo he started running a fever and threw up on car ride home. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive and we stopped for dinner so he got sick probably 3 hours after leaving zoo, i noticed the spots on his leg the next morning. He still had fever and we went to er that night and they said he probably had a flu bug. Then the next morning noticed a few more bumps on his thighs and butt. Called doc and got in on friday and he had them on feet and hands, they said to give him benadryl and wait it out. They were not sure but thought it was either viral infection, chicken pox or hand foot and mouth

You certainly don't want to diagnosis yourself or your son from what you read on the Internet, but it can help to make you think of questions to ask the doctor or other avenues to try. For instance, three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, went through a lumpectomy and was told I would have to have probably 6-7 weeks of radiation because that was the standard practice. My lump was very new, the margins were clear, the lymph nodes were clear, and tests showed there was no apparent metastasizing going on anywhere in my body. I questioned the 6-7 weeks of radiation. "That's the gold standard," my doctor said. I'm a librarian and did a ton of research including on Internet and then presented my doctor with my case--the Canadian protocol of 3 weeks and why. He took my research and documents to the hospital cancer committee who grudgingly agreed on 3 weeks. I've heard that now breast cancer patients who have a small, new lump near the skin surface (like mine was) are now given a choice for radiation at that hospital, including the Canadian protocol.

I believe in being one's own best advocate and doing the thinking and quality research that will lead to an accurate diagnosis and good outcome.

What I would do is think back on every step of that zoo trip,. He may have picked up something from another child or adult or from an animal or from the environment or a food. Or maybe it was something lurking in his body before the trip and came out on the way home. But I would sure think back on anything that he did or ate or wore that could have led up to this. And also for the days before the trip.

Sorry to hear about that, i hope you are well. I agree that online diagnosis is not the answer to health problems, However as you stated that research and working with your doctor is a good idea. I am just looking for suggestions and ideas to research and take back to him on monday. I am not one to just sit and wait. I did that the last time and until i took it upon myself to do some research and take it back to doctor we did not know what was wrong with my son. After taking research back to doc we were able to get my son healthy. That is what i am trying to do now, so any suggestions on what it could be are helpful. thank you for your help

Thanks wondergirl for trying to help with this, There was another child at zoo with us and so far she is ok. She stayed i stroller the whole time though. My son was not in it that much as he is older. Also none of the adults have any symptoms either. The only thing i can think of that he did but no one else did was play in the water mister that they have there for the kids to run through.

I would research that mister and possible irritants (chlorine? chemicals?). That could explain his hands being affected.

ok thanks did not think of that. He has been in pools without a problem but maybe there is a chemical in it or higher clorine level. I talk to doctor about that on monday. I appreciate your help!

Call the zoo to ask innocent questions about the mister and chemicals without telling why?