Rashes
Skin rashes are common in babies and children.
Most rashes are harmless and go away on their own.
A skin rash associated with fever is most often due to a viral infection. This occurs along with other symptoms such as runny nose and cough.
The rash can vary in shape and size, usually appearing as blotchy red spots commonly affecting most of the body. These rashes are called ‘non-specific’, which means that it is hard to say which specific virus is the cause.
Visit the NHS website for pictures of common skin rashes in babies and children and their causes.
Please see Red-Amber-Green tables for advice on when and where to seek care for your child.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the glass test)
- Swollen lips or tongue and struggling to breathe
- Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
- Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
- Breathing that stops or pauses
- Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
- Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
- Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
- Has a fit (seizure)
- Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or call 999 - dial 999.
If your child has any of the following:
- Painful rash
- Blistering rash unless recent contact with chicken pox
- Develops red lips or a red tongue
- Develops a lot of skin peeling
- Has had chickenpox in the past few days and is now getting more unwell
- Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
- Dry skin, lips or tongue
- Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
- Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
- Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
- Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
- Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
- Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months
- Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please contact your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111.
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.
If your child has any of the following:
- Impetigo like rash (starts as a small blister which pops and dries leaving a patch of yellow crusting)
- OR Insect bite with swelling or redness that is spreading
Please use pharmacy first
Please call your local pharmacy. Your local community pharmacist will be able to see and help you. They can prescribe antibiotics if needed through Pharmacy First or if more worrying signs found, help guide you to the most suitable healthcare professional.
If your child is under 1 year or has had antibiotics in the last 2 weeks please call your GP instead.
If none of the above features are present
- Most children with fever and rash can be safely managed at home
- Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
- Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies
- If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you
- If you think that this is a worsening of your child’s eczema, please look at the eczema page or contact your GP or practice nurse
- Please look at the pages on Chicken pox, Hand Foot and Mouth disease and Scarlet Fever if you are concerned that the rash might be caused by one of these illnesses
- For infected insect bites or suspected impetigo please use pharmacy first. To find your nearest pharmacy please click here
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend.
Advice and Guidance
Self care and Prevention
- Many rashes simply get better by themselves without any treatment. This includes viral rashes.
- If your child has a fever, you may want to lower their temperature using Paracetamol and / or Ibuprofen.
- Some rashes require you to keep your child off from nursery or school. This includes chickenpox and scarlet fever.
- Mild eczema, nappy rash and cold sores can be treated with creams from your local community pharmacist.
For information on common rashes in babies and children, click here.
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