Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The Ides of February

Unfortunately this is another post with no pictures.

Or rather, fortunately, this is another post with no pictures.

You see, it all began like this...



Two weeks ago, Paris did not go to Childcare because - well, I have attempted several times to say it nicely, but there aren't many ways to say "she was a snotty nosed kid".

She only (theoretically) goes two days a week, which is V's two days to get some more study under his belt.

I say theoretically, because by being well enough to go to Childcare last week, she was set to bring her attendance rate up to about 50% for the year.

We (especially V) did a little jig last week when she was well enough to attend. Especially V, because he is at crunch time for his study.

Last Wednesday, I went to collect Paris after work. I don't often get this privelege - it is a task that V and 'Salina tend to bags, mainly because I get home late and they are fretting.

However, due to homework and assignments and me getting an early(ish) card, I got the guernsey.

When I got into her room, she was resting and didn't notice me. Her clothes had been changed, and when I grabbed her bag I saw her old clothes were covered in something yellow. She then noticed me and burst into tears, pleading "bap! bap!" (my sole purpose in her life on occasion, I think) so she and I made a fast getaway.

That evening, we noticed that she looked a little sunburned.

The next day we were sure she had been burned a little by the sun, as it only appeared on her arms from where a t-shirt would have covered down, plus a little at the neckline.

The next evening, we changed our home diagnosis to perhaps being wiped down with something she reacted to, as the "sunburn" was getting a little splotchy.

By Friday, I was worried enough to make a doctor's appointment and call the centre for some background on what may have set off an allergic reaction. I was advised that yellow jelly had been the substance on her clothes, and she had been wiped down with wipes. They also mentioned another child had come down with a rash and was going to the doctor as it looked viral.

The doctor advised that the rash wasn't acting like any viral rash (only on arms, top of one leg and the front of the neck) and it was most likely an allergy.

When I told her I was going to my sister's on the weekend, she told me to have fun, don't worry, and the rash should go away.

Saturday, the rash hadn't gone away but it wasn't bothering her and my sister had a Jeanie-shaped hole in her book-keeping.

My sister reminded me that she was allergic to Dettol and had reacted so badly she ended up blistered - and 'lo, it was true that Paris' spots were starting to blister.

By Sunday evening when we arrived back home, the spots were all turning to blisters, and the clear skin on her legs and lower back were turning to spots, and I thought it might be prudent for another visit to the good doctor and a call to the childcare centre for more indepth information about the wipes.

It appears the wipes were a new brand they didn't regularly use - and as we only use fragrance-free ones or chux it was a possibility.

The doctor mentioned words like "mystery" and called in her colleague, who agreed he had never seen anything quite like it.

On our way to get blood tests and swabs, I rang the childcare centre again to tell them there may be a mystery virus and enquire what the other child was diagnosed with - to be told that TWO children had diagnosed rashes in that room - one with Chickenpox, one with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Nice.

So another phone call to my sister to tell her I have potentially exposed her and her family to highly contagious viruses. Yay.

Have I mentioned how loud and piercing Paris' yell can be? Try that in an echo chamber of a pathology room with two women, a large needle and some vials.

Yesterday, the blisters all turned to scabs, the spots all turned to blisters - and other than the discomfort of trying to crawl on blistered knees, she was fairly fine.

Today we went back to the doctor for diagnosis.

We didn't get one.

We DO know she doesn't have Chickenpox OR Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

We DO know that she has had an allergic reaction at some point recently.

However - there could still be a virus as this rash isn't a typical allergy rash - but it isn't a typical viral rash either, so we are where we were...

The good news is that Paris is still fairly fine.

10 comments:

Jayne said...

Crikey, Moses.
Poor little possum, hope she's feeling 100% again soon.
And the mystery rash is sorted quick smart!

Anonymous said...

Sheesh! Sounds like a fun time at your house :\ Not.

Hope it clears up soon... or at least the mystery does

Leenie said...

Sorry for Paris. Sorry for you. Sorry for those who have to administer injections. Makes you wish the little tykes could talk better and give you more hints to the mystery. At least there won't be a pox upon Granite Glenn.

BB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BB said...

No pox upon us! Yay.
No pox upon Paris! Double yay.
Bloomin' mystery rash hanging around like a bad smell! Not yay.
Hugs to niece and sister.
BB
xx
PS Word ver is 'pokat' - no joke!

Crazed Nitwit said...

yeah, rashes/reactions just happen sometimes. Sucks thoQ

Debby said...

Cara is 21 (years, mind you) and still deals with mystery rashes. No answers. Other than we narrow it down every time she gets another and we discover what it isn't.

Kate said...

I don't want to alarm you but why were there kids at the daycare with known infectious rashes and you were not told in advance?
I am an early childhood caregiver and the rules I abide by mean that those kinds of illnesses have to be kept away from care and if its too late then all other parents must be immediately notified.
If Paris hasn't been allowed at care because she hasn't been without "snot" then maybe you want to reconsider the daycare as a breeding place for illness and switch her to somewhere else.
Oh, and I get really wicked excema when I use disinfectant wipes (the kind you use for surfaces not people) and its purely a contact reaction!!

Pencil Writer said...

Mystery rashes can be very vexing. I had a very ugly experience with a four-year-old daughter some years back. I can't believe how excessively pompous (and stupid)some men with an MD behind their names can be.

My daughter had welts/bruising the size of quarters and half-dollar coins all over her little legs when she woke one morning. Like an idiot, and because her Dad is highly allergic to wasp and bee stings, I'd sprayed a wasp in her bedroom the day before. I aired it out for the better part of the day and thought I'd made it safe for her. Not till later did I remember how allergic I myself am to insect sprays and repellents as was my daughter.

The next morning I took her to the Dr. who, even after I told him EVERYTHING that had happened and about daughter's allergy . . . he negated all of that and explained that she must be having an allergic reaction to some virus. I argued to no avail and he arranged for a dermatologist to look at her later in the day.

That absolute JERK (the dermatologist) walked into the exam room with a clipboard or file in hand, and before he even LOOKED at my daughter gave HIS EXACT diagnosis! He'd never lifted his eyes so much as to acknowledge she was in the room and he had his diagnosis.

He prescribed steroids, which actually worked, but 30 years ago it was a scary word, not that the huge spots hadn't gotten worse in the intervening hours.

When I asked the MD if he could explain what was going on with my daughter--and I still can't believe his huge air of arrogance--he said "not that you could understand it." I honestly wanted to slap his face. I had taken the time to explain everything to him about what had transpired, etc. Pfttt. I had no MD, therefore, I didn't know anything about anything and certainly couldn't be expected to tell him anything valid or worthy of his time to consider as contributing factors.

By the time we got her home it was evening and her poor little legs were swollen and it was just horrible. The steroids did work, but to this day she is highly allergic to any kind of bug spray or repellent.

I hope little Paris gets better and the care center cares a little more for your little darling and the others at their center--if you ever return her there.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh, what a hassle. Bloody unknown lurgies!!!