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Child Has Red Color On Cheeks And Ear. Something To Worry About?

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Posted on Thu, 4 Oct 2012
Question: hello doctor...today suddenly my 1 year old baby....started getting red colour surrounding the ear and her cheecks which later on disappeared as red spots near the ear...
after sometime the red patches strated spreading almost all over face....could you please tell me is there something to worry about
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Hi


Rashes in infants can be caused by different reasons which can be divided into (1) rashes caused by bacteria and viruses (2) rashes caused by fungal and parasitic infections (3) life threatening rashes (4) due to allergic or hypersensitive response

Viral and bacterial causes would include measles - associated with initial nasal congestion,cough,eye redness before rash is seen
Rubella- light rash on the face, associated with fever,headache,joint pain,redness of the eyes,swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Scarlet fever- throat infection with a rash, the baby would have a sore throat,decreased eating because of soreness,fever
Slapped cheek disease is caused by a virus, the child first has symptoms of a viral illness (nasal congestion,slight cough, mild fever), when these symptoms resolve the rash develop.Associated with bright red cheeks.
Roseola - this is caused by a virus, the child usually has a high spiking fever followed by the rash

Allergies can also cause rashes but these would usually be associated with itching.Sebohorric dermatitis can also cause rashes on the face , this is a common skin disorder that is easily treated.

More XXXXXXX rashes would be: fever and petechiae- petechiae are flat red dots in the skin that do not fade when pressed , they are due to broken blood vessels in the skin.They can be present in simple viral infections or in more XXXXXXX cases of sepsis which is severe blood infection
Meningococcal infection- fever, petechial rash, nausea, vomiting are present

fungal and parasitic rashes include ring worm (this however does not come and go) and scabies (very itchy rash, worse in nights)

You need to check whether she has any other symptoms beside the rash, like fever or itching.Fever with a rash may occur in a simple viral illness but may also indicate more serious condition.
It is best that you have her evaluated to determine the exact cause of the rash, it may be nothing serious but the doctor will need to examine not just the rash but a general examination may be indicated.

I hope this helps and wish you and your daughter the best,feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Child Has Red Color On Cheeks And Ear. Something To Worry About?

Hi


Rashes in infants can be caused by different reasons which can be divided into (1) rashes caused by bacteria and viruses (2) rashes caused by fungal and parasitic infections (3) life threatening rashes (4) due to allergic or hypersensitive response

Viral and bacterial causes would include measles - associated with initial nasal congestion,cough,eye redness before rash is seen
Rubella- light rash on the face, associated with fever,headache,joint pain,redness of the eyes,swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Scarlet fever- throat infection with a rash, the baby would have a sore throat,decreased eating because of soreness,fever
Slapped cheek disease is caused by a virus, the child first has symptoms of a viral illness (nasal congestion,slight cough, mild fever), when these symptoms resolve the rash develop.Associated with bright red cheeks.
Roseola - this is caused by a virus, the child usually has a high spiking fever followed by the rash

Allergies can also cause rashes but these would usually be associated with itching.Sebohorric dermatitis can also cause rashes on the face , this is a common skin disorder that is easily treated.

More XXXXXXX rashes would be: fever and petechiae- petechiae are flat red dots in the skin that do not fade when pressed , they are due to broken blood vessels in the skin.They can be present in simple viral infections or in more XXXXXXX cases of sepsis which is severe blood infection
Meningococcal infection- fever, petechial rash, nausea, vomiting are present

fungal and parasitic rashes include ring worm (this however does not come and go) and scabies (very itchy rash, worse in nights)

You need to check whether she has any other symptoms beside the rash, like fever or itching.Fever with a rash may occur in a simple viral illness but may also indicate more serious condition.
It is best that you have her evaluated to determine the exact cause of the rash, it may be nothing serious but the doctor will need to examine not just the rash but a general examination may be indicated.

I hope this helps and wish you and your daughter the best,feel free to ask any other questions