My son has a rash on his hands feet thighs legs and butt. None on his torso. They are red bumps a few have scabed. He also has red dots on roof of his mouth. Monday he had fever and threw up and tues had a fever. Tues I noticed the bumps on legs that had scabs and a few more bumps have developed but none on torso. What is this?

I don't know why you haven't had him to the doctor, no diagnosis can be given on the internet, you should realize that we cannot see the affliction personally like the doctor can.

I did take him to the doctor yesterday and they were unsure what it was, said maybe hand foot and mouth but there are no sores in mouth just the red pinlike spots and rash is not blistered. also said maybe chicken pox but they usually start on torso and he has none on torso and none are blistered. Also said maybe viral infection. But they are not sure. They told me to give him benadryl and bring back if it got worse. Just trying to find out some thoughts on which one it could be

No way of telling from here. Please follow benadryl instructions as they said. I know you are worried but there is no way we can diagnose not seeing the problem, surely you can understand that.

Yes I can understand but trying to see if someone has encountered same symptoms and can maybe give some insight to what it is other than take benadryl and wait. Just concerned for my son and want to clear this up so he will be better. Obviously waiting and not knowing is my concern. If anyone has encountered this please give me some suggestions other than wait and see and go to doctors. Thanks

Since the rash is mostly on his lower half, was he wearing a fabric that might have disagreed with his skin and caused an allergic reaction?

He has not had any new clothes on and I have not changed any of our products at home. We went to zoo Monday and he was wearing shorts. Thought maybe bug bite? Chiggers? Doc did not think so but also did not know what it was for sure.. Thank you

The very fact that the rash is on his lower half still makes me think that has something to do with it--his clothes or the stroller he might have sat in or the fabric of the shorts. Or did he eat something very different while at the zoo? Or pat any of the animals, say, at a petting zoo? Did he walk around on the grass maybe near a pond or lake or walk through some taller grasses or flowers?

We have not used the stroller in maybe a year, it was stored in closet. He did not pet any of the animals at the zoo. We did walk around in the grass there though. He has not had any new food either. I was thinking bug bite cause the first ones were on his leg just red bumps and then the next morning they scabed and I noticed the red bumps on his thighs and butt. The next day they were on his hands and feet. That's why doc did not think it was bug bite because it was spreading.

I do understand your concern, but I have to ask. If the doctors couldn't give you a diagnosis, people that go to school for 8 years training to work in the medical field, then what makes you think you'll get a diagnosis online?

I can guess, just like the doctors did, the list will be long, and only possibilities, no actual diagnosis.

What tests did the doctors do? Did they do any blood work, or anything else, or did they just look at the rash and guess?

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 don't 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?