Furious Rash

This started about 10 days ago, a slight rash last weekend. On Monday, I took the boys in for green snot and the GP said its probably contact with some tree as it was only on Nate's right arm. Light antihistamine and some cream later it did not clear. On weds, I bring him to the second doctor, a dermatologist, said to continue the dosage of antihistamine and gave some moisturiser (i found it strange that it had a high level of perfume) and more creams. By Friday it was spreading, more spots on the right arm, some on the left. By saturday, I take him to my friend's dermatologist, he starts having spots on his face.

The dr thinks its part of his genetic make up as he had atopic dermatitis as a child and it can manifest itself in 3 ways, (1) runny nose (which he has), (2) skin (which he now has) and (3) in the lungs and as asthma (which he has never had). The rash seemed consistent except it had an "sinister" bump like quality. hmmm... so she wanted to take a skin sample for the lab (results in a week) but it involves a numbing injection, taking 3mm of skin and stitching up. This is the pic of the stitch up. Nate was very brave, we watched videos on the nokia phone and he got away with a Ben 10 toy. The dr said she wished all her children patients were like him.

On sat afternoon, his eyes seemed to swell and I called the dr, she suggested I give him oral steroids and have them as standby. By night time his right eyelid swells up and we decide to give it to him by morning today the rash was red and furious and his eyes were almost swell shut. The second round of steroids seemed to have done the trick. Swimming and ice cold wipe downs help, exercise and heat makes it worse.

So he is now on the path of recovery (I hope), am tempted to bring him to a chinese dr as well. The dr we have is very responsive and has called and given me her mobile number.

A side story that is worse that this rash... someone we know was held up at gun point leaving her son's school and then they almost break her finger trying to take her ring off.