Post-viral rash in older kid?

[Anonymous]

My nearly 13 year old had a mild fever and sore throat and a rash. Fever is gone and he feels fine besides the throat. Went to urgent care and he tested negative for strep and Covid. I thought these rashes were less likely in older kids, though the doctor was very "meh, he's a child, they're common in children." Anyone have experience with this? Any other specific viruses going around right now? (He had strep and flu a couple months ago.)

[Anonymous]

if i were you i would be concerned about and watchful for signs of meningitis or MIS C. google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nearly 13 year old had a mild fever and sore throat and a rash. Fever is gone and he feels fine besides the throat. Went to urgent care and he tested negative for strep and Covid. I thought these rashes were less likely in older kids, though the doctor was very "meh, he's a child, they're common in children." Anyone have experience with this? Any other specific viruses going around right now? (He had strep and flu a couple months ago.)

Are you concerned with lingering sore throat or particular rash?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nearly 13 year old had a mild fever and sore throat and a rash. Fever is gone and he feels fine besides the throat. Went to urgent care and he tested negative for strep and Covid. I thought these rashes were less likely in older kids, though the doctor was very "meh, he's a child, they're common in children." Anyone have experience with this? Any other specific viruses going around right now? (He had strep and flu a couple months ago.)

Are you concerned with lingering sore throat or particular rash?

I mean his throat is getting better and, while the rash is still there, it doesn't really bother him and I know it can last for a few days. If he was like 4, I'd have no concerns. I worry more that, at his age, there's something wrong with his immune system or whatnot, that he's getting a post-viral rash. Like, shouldn't he be immune to the "classic" illnesses that cause childhood rashes by now (like roseola)? I do know that there are many many viruses out there, of course, and also that I'm sure middle school is extremely germy. Just looking for other experiences, I guess (although, as I said, the urgent care doctor seemed unphased by it.)

[Anonymous]

I had a nasty post virus rash 18 months ago as a 50 year old woman, for the first time I can ever remember. There's a lot of nonsense spreading around out there post Covid. Mine was a sandpaper feeling rash, much like you see with Scarlet fever in kids and teens. I just figured I had strep, since that is a somewhat particular kind of rash.

As long as he continues to feel better, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nearly 13 year old had a mild fever and sore throat and a rash. Fever is gone and he feels fine besides the throat. Went to urgent care and he tested negative for strep and Covid. I thought these rashes were less likely in older kids, though the doctor was very "meh, he's a child, they're common in children." Anyone have experience with this? Any other specific viruses going around right now? (He had strep and flu a couple months ago.)

Are you concerned with lingering sore throat or particular rash?

I mean his throat is getting better and, while the rash is still there, it doesn't really bother him and I know it can last for a few days. If he was like 4, I'd have no concerns. I worry more that, at his age, there's something wrong with his immune system or whatnot, that he's getting a post-viral rash. Like, shouldn't he be immune to the "classic" illnesses that cause childhood rashes by now (like roseola)? I do know that there are many many viruses out there, of course, and also that I'm sure middle school is extremely germy. Just looking for other experiences, I guess (although, as I said, the urgent care doctor seemed unphased by it.)

If it does not bother him, probably give it a few days. My 13year old this year had unusually way too many colds with lingering sore throats. No fevers or down time, but runny nose, sore throat that takes up to 3 weeks to improve. I had exactly same thoughts as you about immune system. Our Ped is not concerned,our ENT is not either. I still pushed for some blood , but our case is multiple unusual occurrences.

[Anonymous]

Rash or hives?

My DD developed hives about a week or so after a viral infection, that continued for a month. Ended up visiting a dermatologist. The hives would arise after scratching her skin.

[Anonymous]

Did they send out the strep for culture? I would follow up on that and make sure it came back negative. If they didn’t. They should have

[Anonymous]

I had a post viral rash when I was in my 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they send out the strep for culture? I would follow up on that and make sure it came back negative. If they didn’t. They should have

They said they had a better test that was more accurate (took 40 minutes to run, instead of the usual 15 min) and there was a lower chance of needing culture. He still has a bit of a sore throat so depending on how he is tomorrow, I may schedule something with his pediatrician as well. One thing is, he's has strep before and usually his symptoms were way worse - very high fever, vomiting, terrible headache. I know it can be different each time though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they send out the strep for culture? I would follow up on that and make sure it came back negative. If they didn’t. They should have

They said they had a better test that was more accurate (took 40 minutes to run, instead of the usual 15 min) and there was a lower chance of needing culture. He still has a bit of a sore throat so depending on how he is tomorrow, I may schedule something with his pediatrician as well. One thing is, he's has strep before and usually his symptoms were way worse - very high fever, vomiting, terrible headache. I know it can be different each time though.

Oh, and his rash wasn't super indicative of a strep rash, like not sandpaper-y etc. I'd call it "rash" not hives, as there doesn't seem to be any immune involvement, only itchy after a hot shower etc.

[Anonymous]

I still get viral rashes and I'm in my 30s. I'll get viral exanthem across my chest and upper arms with various illnesses. Both Covid vaccine and Covid infection triggered it as well, and the vaccine caused some skin peeling. I also get hives and blotches from anything or nothing and just have sensitive skin in general that shows everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still get viral rashes and I'm in my 30s. I'll get viral exanthem across my chest and upper arms with various illnesses. Both Covid vaccine and Covid infection triggered it as well, and the vaccine caused some skin peeling. I also get hives and blotches from anything or nothing and just have sensitive skin in general that shows everything.

OP here. Thank you, I appreciate this! I have sensitive skin too, though not so much regarding unexplained rashes. Both my kids have eczema (though his is better than his younger sibling's.) As a baby, he would also almost always get a fever after a vaccine (nothing serious and would go away in 1 day.) So maybe it all makes sense.