Children experience rashes throughout their childhood, with causes ranging from viral illnesses to allergic reactions. Determining the type of rash and when it needs urgent medical attention can be difficult when you encounter a rash on your baby. A thorough analysis of your child's symptoms and any potential causes of the rash; as well as its appearance and location, can help ensure you seek the appropriate medical advice and treatment.

Symptoms

Evaluate your baby's overall health to determine any other symptoms accompanying his rash. Look for fever, vomiting, runny nose, coughing, lethargy or pain. While rashes accompanied by any bothersome symptoms, and especially rashes in infants, do merit a visit to the doctor, pediatric website AskDrSears.com suggests you can often skip a visit to the doctor if your baby's (symptom-free) rash does not bother her and/or if it goes away within four weeks. If your baby acts extremely ill or if you notice any type of shortness of breath, page or call your doctor immediately.

Environmental Causes and Location

Think about any changes to routine or to your baby's environment that may cause his rash, as well as the location of the rash. Changes in laundry detergent or bath soaps/moisturizers can trigger a contact rash due to the sensitivity of a baby's skin. Dietary changes, such as starting solids or eating a new type of food, can cause mild diaper rash in many infants. Hot weather can cause heat rash, especially on the neck or lower back. Rashes on his face can be caused by drooling, pacifiers, contact with food (especially when eating more acidic foods such as strawberries or tomatoes) or exposure to cold air. Cold weather and allergies can cause a dry, itchy rash known as eczema, which can appear as red, irritated patches on the trunk, hands, feet, knees, elbows and face.

Appearance

Look at the rash to determine its overall appearance and description. Feel it to determine whether it is flat (flush with the skin) or raised. If it looks like somebody put a piece of lace material over your child's skin, AskDrSears defines it as "lacy," a description often used for the rash accompanying the common childhood illness roseola. A rash that looks like pimples might be due to baby acne or skin irritation. Raised welts can indicate irritation from exposure to an irritant, such as poison ivy or stinging nettle, or an allergic rash (known as hives). Blisters and pustules consist of bumps filled with fluid and can indicate various viral infections.

Research

Use the Internet to evaluate pictures of rashes similar to that exhibited by your baby and call your doctor for medical advice. You can also try a Google Image search using terms that describe your rash, such as "flat purple rash" or "rash on scalp." According to pediatrician and child development expert Dr. William Sears, childhood rashes rarely require urgent pages to your doctor or visits to the emergency room. If your child develops any signs of a rash consisting of ruptured blood vessels, known as petechiae, or flat purplish spots that do not turn white when you press them, known as purpura, call your doctor immediately or bring your child to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.

Source:

AskDrSears: Rashes

Medline: Rashes in Children Under 2 Years Old

Resource:

Mayo Clinic: Slide Show of Common Skin Rashes

Dr. Greene: Rash Center

Mayo Clinic: Slide Show of Baby Rashes