Question
After an 11-month-old baby has had a high fever for three days, small red spots appear on their face again. How should one distinguish whether these red spots are drug rashes or roseola? What about the past treatment and its effectiveness?
Answer
The reappearance of red spots on a baby’s face after a high fever could be due to drug hypersensitivity causing a drug rash, or it could be roseola. To determine the cause, it is recommended to take the baby to the hospital for a check-up and provide a detailed description of the baby’s symptoms and past treatment history. Past treatments included taking symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication and receiving injections for fever reduction, which may have provided some relief but were not curative for drug rashes or roseola. For drug rashes, anti-allergic treatment can be adopted, while for roseola, symptomatic treatment such as lowering body temperature and replenishing fluids is primarily administered. Additionally, the baby’s clothing should be soft cotton material to reduce skin irritation. In severe cases of drug rashes, oral antihistamines like Benadryl may be required, and topical medications like Eucerin cream can be used to alleviate symptoms. It should be noted that while medication can relieve symptoms, drug rashes and roseola may recur. As the baby grows older, these symptoms usually resolve on their own, so parents should not worry excessively.