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What Causes Stomach Pain And Red Painful Bumps On Palms Of Hands And Feet?
Question: My 36 year old son has just gotten over a terrible stomach virus but has now developed small red painful bumps on the palms of his hands and his feet. The symptoms look like hand-foot-mouth disease. What can he do to relieve this condition? He has no sores in his mouth but does have a sore throat. He can barely work because it's so painful but he needs to work. He has a baby (one year old) but she has no symptoms of anything. Is there something topical or oral to get over this quickly?
Brief Answer:
You could apply calamine lotion
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand from your query that your son has painful rashes on his palms and soles.
The possibility of hand- foot and mouth disease is less likely in a 36 year old adult since it is more common in children. It is also not associated with pain. It could sometimes cause itching.
With your history and description, I would consider the diagnosis of an allergic reaction called as erythema multiforme. This occurs either as an allergic reaction to an infection or to a drug. It presents with painful red " target" lesions on palms, soles and the mouth.
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your query better. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'
You could apply calamine lotion every 2-3 hours for symptomatic relief.
He could also take an antihistamine like Benadryl at bedtime for better relief of symptoms.
He may benefit more from applying a potent steroid cream like Clobetasol propionate which needs to be prescribed by your primary care physician.
Hope this helps you.
Do revert back with clear pictures so I can asses better.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
You could apply calamine lotion
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand from your query that your son has painful rashes on his palms and soles.
The possibility of hand- foot and mouth disease is less likely in a 36 year old adult since it is more common in children. It is also not associated with pain. It could sometimes cause itching.
With your history and description, I would consider the diagnosis of an allergic reaction called as erythema multiforme. This occurs either as an allergic reaction to an infection or to a drug. It presents with painful red " target" lesions on palms, soles and the mouth.
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your query better. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'
You could apply calamine lotion every 2-3 hours for symptomatic relief.
He could also take an antihistamine like Benadryl at bedtime for better relief of symptoms.
He may benefit more from applying a potent steroid cream like Clobetasol propionate which needs to be prescribed by your primary care physician.
Hope this helps you.
Do revert back with clear pictures so I can asses better.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Brief Answer:
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
I have seen the clinical pictures.
As I suspected, the lesions look like erythema multiforme.
He may need a course of oral steroids.
I suggest you to consult your GP/ primary care physician to get a prescription for the same.
In the meantime, he could apply 1 % hydrocortisone cream twice a day for symptomatic relief. In addition, he could take Benadryl tablet orally at bedtime.
Hope this helps you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
I have seen the clinical pictures.
As I suspected, the lesions look like erythema multiforme.
He may need a course of oral steroids.
I suggest you to consult your GP/ primary care physician to get a prescription for the same.
In the meantime, he could apply 1 % hydrocortisone cream twice a day for symptomatic relief. In addition, he could take Benadryl tablet orally at bedtime.
Hope this helps you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do you know how he got this condition? Is it from the virus he had last week? I had the sickness as well as he did and we were both very sick for about 24 hours and am still recovering almost a week later. I've had no signs of this condition. Are the two connected, in your opinion? Any other information you can give me about this condition (and how to avoid it, if possible) would be appreciated.
Thank you! You've been very helpful.
Thank you! You've been very helpful.
Brief Answer:
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
Erythema multiforme is an reaction pattern which can develop in relation to an infection or a drug. It is usually associated with upper respiratory infections and gut infections.Your son could have probably got it as a reaction to the gut infection. If he had taken any particular drug to treat it, the drug could have triggered it as well. Do let me know if he had taken any medications as they have to be avoided in the future.
It need not develop in everyone who has an infection. If one individual in a family is allergic to say, shell fish, it does not mean all the members should be. Similarly, this reaction pattern could have occured in your son but you might have been spared.
This does not also mean that he will develop this reaction everytime he gets any infection. There are particular strains of viruses/ bacteria/ certain drugs which could trigger this reaction. Hence, you need not worry that it will occur every time he has any gut/ respiratory infection.
As far as avoiding this is concerned, if you have identified any drug as the trigger, it should be avoided in the future to prevent another attack. However, infections cannot be entirely prevented. And as I mentioned earlier, he need not develop the reaction every time he has an infection.
Hope this helps you and clarifies your doubts.
If you have any more queries, I will be glad to answer.
Wishing you and your family good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
Erythema multiforme is an reaction pattern which can develop in relation to an infection or a drug. It is usually associated with upper respiratory infections and gut infections.Your son could have probably got it as a reaction to the gut infection. If he had taken any particular drug to treat it, the drug could have triggered it as well. Do let me know if he had taken any medications as they have to be avoided in the future.
It need not develop in everyone who has an infection. If one individual in a family is allergic to say, shell fish, it does not mean all the members should be. Similarly, this reaction pattern could have occured in your son but you might have been spared.
This does not also mean that he will develop this reaction everytime he gets any infection. There are particular strains of viruses/ bacteria/ certain drugs which could trigger this reaction. Hence, you need not worry that it will occur every time he has any gut/ respiratory infection.
As far as avoiding this is concerned, if you have identified any drug as the trigger, it should be avoided in the future to prevent another attack. However, infections cannot be entirely prevented. And as I mentioned earlier, he need not develop the reaction every time he has an infection.
Hope this helps you and clarifies your doubts.
If you have any more queries, I will be glad to answer.
Wishing you and your family good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Chacko,
Thank you again for your prompt response. This has been most helpful and I'm very satisfied to have consulted with you. I just want to let you know that my son did not take any drugs of any kind during the illness so that pretty much rules that out. He took over-the-counter Ibuprofen several times over the entire time he was ill but only once in a while. So obviously this was not a reaction to any medication. This is for your information.
Thank you again, XXXXXX
Thank you again for your prompt response. This has been most helpful and I'm very satisfied to have consulted with you. I just want to let you know that my son did not take any drugs of any kind during the illness so that pretty much rules that out. He took over-the-counter Ibuprofen several times over the entire time he was ill but only once in a while. So obviously this was not a reaction to any medication. This is for your information.
Thank you again, XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes. It rules out drug as a trigger if he has taken the same drug earlier without any reactions.
I am glad this forum helped you. I hope your son is doing well now.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Erythema multiforme
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes. It rules out drug as a trigger if he has taken the same drug earlier without any reactions.
I am glad this forum helped you. I hope your son is doing well now.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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