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Originally Posted by greeneyes
When I was younger, I used to get similar symptoms in the spring and fall. My doctor eventually diagnosed me with Fifth Disease, so called because it was the fifth virus affecting children that includes a rash. I believe the other four are rubella, scarlet fever, measles and scarlatinella. |
there are 6 viral exanthems of childhood:
1. measles (rubeola, 14 day measles)
2 scarlatina (scarlet fever)
3. German measles (rubella, 3 day measles)
4. fourth disease (duke's disease) - most experts say this no longer exists
5. fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)
6. sixth disease (roseola infantum, exanthem subitum, rose rash of infants)
the other common viral exanthem of childhood, that's not considered in there is chickenpox.
oh, and fifth disease has always been described as recurring, but usually on the order of weeks to months... 10 years sounds a bit long! but i suppose it's possible.
in any event...
he's itching, use hydrocortisone.
what's the cause of his recurrent rash? i have no idea.
things that will probably be asked by any doctor: fever, abdominal pain, malaise, loss of appetite, irritability, muscular aches and pains?
i would imagine, that after going to the dermatologist, you and your brother will be told to take warm baths- don't make them extremely hot, perhaps use an oatmeal bath, use hydrocortisone for itching, and say a virus as the cause of the illness.
as long as your brother's feeling fine (not feeling lethargic), and the lesions aren't opening and crusting over, it's probably not a big deal.
btw, dermatology generally isn't too difficult. rules to follow with skin conditions:
if it's wet, make it dry.
if it's dry, make it wet.
if it itches, make it stop.
just the opinion of one medical student.