Around 1am on Saturday, Faith woke up screaming and refused to be put back in her crib. This is really unusual for her and I started to think that she might be teething or sick. I gave her some Motrin and after a lot of crying, she fell asleep until the morning. She seemed fine in the morning, but during my 6 mile treadmill run, my husband noticed that those red spots were spreading...all over her body. When I got upstairs and saw her, my first thought was that she was allergic to something. I called the doctor, but he was off this weekend so I had to call a different pediatrician (they switch off weekends) and they said if we could make it there in 15 minutes, they could see us or else we'd have to go over to the hospital.
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| I'm going to need lots of drugs |
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| The plague! |
We got there just as the doctor was leaving, but he looked at us and decided to let us in (and thankfully one of the nurses stayed too). It was pretty sweet being the only patient. If I was really rich, that's the only way I'd go to the doctor. Plus, our examination room was Star Wars themed and I think more doctor's offices should have the Death Star painted on their wall.
The doctor looked at Faith's rash and said "This is scarlet fever rash. It's good that you brought her in" and I was mentally trying to figure out if I just wasn't understanding his accented English. Scarlet fever? Like we're traveling on the Oregon Trail?
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| You know you loved this game too |
She also tested positive for strep and got her first prescription for antibiotics ever. It wasn't until I got home and did some research that I realized that scarlet fever is just a type of strep. My mind was still stuck on scarlet fever as a deadly disease from Little House on the Prairie or Little Women. It turns out that scarlet fever is just a certain strain of the strep bacteria that releases a toxin that causes the rash. Not every child reacts to the toxin, so the rash isn't guaranteed. It's most common for kids ages 2-10, so it's unlikely for an adult to get the rash. Also, it's not the deadly disease that it used to be, so for once the internet actually calmed me down about an illness instead of freaking me out.
The doctor also warned us that she was extremely contagious and we should avoid sharing food or drinks with her. Considering the day before I split a smoothie with her, this wasn't comforting information.
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| I considered hanging this on the front door |
Luckily after 24 hours on the antibiotics she wouldn't be contagious anymore, but we aren't going to take her out of the house until she looks a little less like this:
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| You know you'd love to see this at the playground |
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| If you think this is bad, you should see her butt |
Good news? The rash doesn't itch at all and doesn't seem to bother Faith at all. The sore throat is bothering her more than anything. The rash should go away in a few days and we can go out among normal people again.
Bad news? Scarlet fever rash doesn't just fade nicely away...it PEELS. Luckily (?) it only seems to peel on the hands, feet and groin area. I keep thinking I've done all the disgusting things possible as a parent, but dealing with diapering a peeling groin area might be a new low.
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| Just think of it as bonding time Mommy |
After a day and a half on her meds (she is also on something to help clear up the rash), Faith is feeling much better and she is eating again.
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| I get chocolate milk and apples on the couch when I'm sick! |
I'm also really grateful that this happened on the weekend so my husband was here to help. Plus, Faith is his number one fan and really enjoys giving him germy hugs.
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| Hug attack! |
I'm not feeling so hot today, but I'm hoping I'm not getting strep. I was running a low fever this afternoon and my throat hurts, so I backed out of my group run tonight. I'm sad to miss it, but it's better to be safe than sorry when pregnant. Non-pregnant, I'd be an idiot and go anyway. I'm just glad that chances are really, really slim that I'd get the rash too if I do end up getting strep.
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| You know your kid contracted an awesome disease when this kind of thing comes up in Google images |
So, not an awesome weekend for running but I hadn't anticipated scarlet fever (does anyone?). I'm crossing my fingers that I wake up tomorrow and feel normal. I've only ever had strep once in my life and I'd like to keep that streak going.
Does scarlet fever make you think of the Oregon Trail game or are you more up to date with kid diseases? I really thought it wasn't something that anyone actually still got.
I totally thought of Oregon Trail when I saw this on Facebook! I hope you aren't getting sick. Strep is no fun, especially in this weather. Feel better!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to live after all :)
DeleteHoly moly the title of this post made me lol.
ReplyDeleteI basically only use the internet as a means to diagnose and it oddly makes me feel better most of the time. I think if you had to ford a river, I'd think of Oregon Trail for sure.
Good luck and I hope y'all feel better soon.
Well, it's raining outside so we might have to ford some water :)
DeleteAs a 29-year old who still gets fever rashes, I feel for Faith! Hope you guys are back at 100% soon!!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Last year I had a rash all over my body that turned out to be pityriasis rosea, which is something that some (read: very few) people get after a common cold, but of course, mine just came out of the blue. It was awful :(
DeleteHope Faith and you feel better soon
I had never even heard of fever related rashes before this. The human body is strange!
DeleteThey really need to bring Oregon Trail back. With the same graphics as in the 80's.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better in the morning. At least if you do have strep there's medicine they can give you to zap it. I always just get some kind strange illness that isn't cured with antibiotics.
Poor kiddo! I am completely ignorant when it comes to kids and their illnesses. But I'm somewhat of an expert on strep. I got it as a kid alllllll the tiiiiiime! Never had the rash with it though.
ReplyDeletei feel guilty sitting here laughing so hard and at the same time looking at the photos going "ohhh poor little faith!" i blame you and the oregon trail stuff. ;) loooved that game! hope she feels better soon!
ReplyDeleteI was gonna guess hand/foot/mouth because that's another fun virus to catch.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought at first too, but I guess we'll just have to wait to get that fun one later.
DeleteIsn't it amazing how lucky we are that these illnesses that could blind people 150 years ago are now easily curable with antibiotics? Our family got it the May after our kids started preschool (lovely petri dish of illnesses is preschool). I hope you avoid it!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw you mention it on dailymile, I had to google it. I didn't realize people still got that. So sorry Faith is sick. I hope she gets better soon. I disliked Oregon Trail, I always ran out of food, got swept away by a river, or died of some disease 2 days into it.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how I felt when they told me I had dysentery! All I could think of was Oregon Trail (and in imminent death). Poor Faith - glad it doesn't hurt but the whole peeling groin and face skin doesn't sound awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she's too young to be embarrassed. :)
DeleteIf you post pictures of her groin peeling, I'm out.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, I'll email them to you.
DeleteUmm. I didn't even know Scarlet Fever was a thing anymore. And be careful! You definitely don't want to get super sick while pregnant.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for you to say that your oxen died because you decided to float across the river. Mostly what I know about scarlet fever is that in the Little House series, that's what makes Mary blind, and in Little Women, that's what weakens Beth's heart. Sounds like all Faith's going to get are embarrassing stories her parents can tell when she starts dating. :)
ReplyDeleteI live on the Oregon Trail, 20 miles west of Chimney Rock, so I think about the game all. the. time. True story.
The FIRST thing I thought of was the Oregon Trail. Did her Oxen forge the river to deliver her antibiotics successfully?
ReplyDeletePoor thing - I hope you both feel better!
ReplyDeleteGod love her! Of all the illnesses there is to deal with, I have to stay, ones that give rashes freak me out BIG time. I can handle getting the store throat etc., but the second I (or Cameron) has a rash, you might has well tell me it's a parasites or something. I have no idea why. Cameron had hand, foot & mouth disease once which wasn't early as bad as the roseola rash - freak out, heeby jeeby city for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got her seen & on antibiotics right away and I super hope you don't get it :-/
Definitely an Oregon Trail disease and I would definitely have been thinking deadly as well. I'm glad the rash doesn't itch...that would be one cranky toddler...
ReplyDeleteHmm my toddler had a rash that looked identical to that one and they told me it was roseola and not a big deal. But I'm not a doctor so what do I know?? Toddler rashes are super fun either way, I hope Faith is feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that was still around either... I'm so glad you had help. Sick kiddos are not fun, and being the solo parent and trying to get it all figured out would have been so stressful. Take care of yourself, hope you can kick your fever quickly.
ReplyDeletei definitely thought of little house on the prairie and someone in a cabin soaked in sweat with a rag over their forehead. thank god it's 2012.
ReplyDeleteI certainly didn't think scarlet fever was still an issue. I didn't think dysentery was either, so blogs have really opened my eyes. Glad she's feeling better! Hopefully you are too!
ReplyDeletePoor Faith! I hope you are all feeling better soon!
ReplyDeleteAh kara ! I'm just able to read blog's after 3 weeks in the field and so glad to hear faith is doing better! I would have thought Oregon trail too if someone ever said scarlet fever to me!
ReplyDelete