Shingles? Azathiprine & Pred

[Catherine]

My daughter has a rash on her back 5cm by 2cm. The rash is red with three spots/bumps.

Walk in gp said it is not shingles as she would have more pain. Sarah says it only itchy. The gp gave us a script for a steriod cream.

I am not happy giving more steriods when she is aready taking pred 35mg. The chemist advise was to see another gp as it doesnot took like a rash that a steriod cream would help and the skin is broken

It sunday of a long weekend amd we won't be able into regular gp before tuesday at the earliest.

Should I be concerned due to the meds she taking?

 

[rollinstone]

Wish I could offer you advise but I'm not sure, how long has she been on the Aza for? Hope she's okay, keep an eye on her for fevers/any other symptoms

 

[Catherine]

Almost 14 months, 125 mg for a couple of months.

 

[D Bergy]

Shingles generally occurs on one side of the body. My wife had it a while back.
Maybe chickenpox?
Dan

 

[RNConnie]

Catherine......my claim to fame is I am an RN, nursed for 45 years, have flamed out crohn's small bowel, asthma, and butt shingles! First, may I say that it would not hurt your daughter if you put the steroid creme on her rash. Mine started out with just itching too. In fact, I had had surgery a year prior and since I was 63 at the time I thought I was getting a bedsore because when I was itching it, it felt wet. What? So I looked in the mirror and there it was, so I had my husband take a photo of it and I sent it to a doctor friend. Mine is very, very low, almost at the spine base and sometimes there will be a slite "slash" that goes onto the other cheek, tho it is confined mostly to the right. I still take 6MP so I take valtrex 1 a day as a preventative, tho I've tried not doing it and within a week they came back. If there are bubbles on it, I'd vote for shingles, but it's not going to hurt her to be seen on Monday. I put cortisone cream on mine for weeks. I hope this helps you somewhat anyway. Good luck. Connie Newell RN/BS Allied Health Ed.

 

[Catherine]

Sarah had chicken pox at 2.5 years. The rash is on the left side of her back only at waistline.

The steroid cream may do not harm to the rash but she is already doing she 3rd course of steroids in 14 months.

The main concern for me now is not Sarah, she has been in contact with a family friend with terminal cancer.

 

[sickinlk]

has she had any other symptoms apart from the rash?
hers a link that's good. it shows pics of shingles and symptoms. not that you haven't been googling enough already.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/ss/slideshow-shingles-pictures

ju

 

[Catherine]

She was complaining of being cold and having sore back prior to the rash. She couldn't be cold, didn't want the cooling on. We are in the middle of a run of hot days. She then said she had a big sore pimple on her back and I saw the rash for the first time.

 

[sickinlk]

you'll know if they blister.
funny I was going through something similar earlier in the week. my son had a rash all over and I thought chicken pox. it wasn't because the blisters didn't appear and the rash dissipated. he still has about 8 spots on his cheek though.
it was no big deal for him, but im on remicade and I also have an aunt whose terminal with cancer so every1 was concerned about shingles.
you are right to be worried these drugs can cause some serious side effects and the limit our ability to fight of everyday bugs.
ju

 

[nitty]

Hi!

Shingles in children can be very mild. Both of my children have had shingles, each at around the age of 9-10years. My son had a small patch of spots on his chest, my daughter's was on her right buttock. Neither of them had any other obvious clinical signs, and it was only by looking up pictures and following the development of the spots (which were very like the chickenpox spots they had, but just grouped together) that we realised what they were.

We just followed precautions to avoid them passing it on (as chickenpox) to friends who may have pregnant mothers. However, my children do not have compromised immune systems.

I am on Azathioprine and I know I would be seeking medical advice. It would seem reasonable to me to consider giving your daughter a course of oral acyclovir in order to avoid the condition escalating. I don't think it would do any harm, even if it turned out not to be shingles, at least she would have the cover just in case. (I am not a doctor, I'm purely going on the knowledge I have from family and friends).

I hope she's feeling better soon.

 

[Catherine]

I pretty sure Sarah has shingles but have now passed the point where any treatment would work.. The three spots are now crusty. She now no symptoms other than rash is itchy.

I have found from a friend child that Sarah told her the rash was sore on Friday when getting her to put sunscreen on her back.

It looks like she a mild case.

 

[Catherine]

One week on the rash is gone but Sarah has been lefted with seven dry brown spots. The tiredness which for was present before the rash appeared is now gone. The area affect now hurt but not enough for painkillers.

Get contact the GI who was more concerned about pred and felt the taper couldn't be much faster.