2 Year Old with Cold and a Rash

Updated on May 22, 2016
A.P. asks from Dedham, MA
9 answers

My 2 year has had a cold for the past few days. She's been sneezing and rubbing her eyes a lot, and nose is very runny. Today she has developed a rash on her neck and chest. Could this be something other than a cold? The rash is very itchy, I put some aquaphor on it which helped a little. She is overall just stuffy and very cranky. I'm debating if we should go to urgent care (would possibly have to wait a couple hours for doctor to say she has a cold!)

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Could be an allergic reaction to something but we have no idea. We are not Dr's.

If it were my child, I'd call my pedi office and speak with the nurse. Most offices have a nurse line.

If it's an allergic reaction to something, that couple of hours out of your time could be very important to your child's health.

4 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Don't just go in to urgent care - waste of time and money until you have advice to do so. I'd call the pediatrician's 24/7 line and describe the rash, ask what to put on it (if anything). You can ask what's safe for the stuffiness too.

Rubbing her eyes can mean there's some allergy stuff going on (which can contribute to the stuffiness/sneezing and even the rash), or it can be the start of conjunctivitis which happens a lot when someone has a cold. I know it's impossible to stop a child from rubbing the eyes after the hands have touched the nose, but do try. Lots of hand washing but please, not with antibacterial soaps, just regular hand soap and rubbing and lather. If the eyes get worse and if she wakes up with a crusty discharge, wear gloves and use a warm compress to soften them, and then DO go in to get antibiotics because it's highly contagious and you definitely don't need the whole household to have pink eye!

Try elevating her head at night - fold a blanket or some beach towels and put them under the mattress at one end so the whole mattress is at an angle - easier than just trying to prop her up on pillows, which she will roll off of at night.

3 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Call her pedi's 24 hour nurse line, they will walk you through the symptoms and will let you know if a trip to urgent care/ER is worth it or even necessary. Also they have access to her health history which we don't and which could make a big difference.

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I'm guessing it's allergies and not a cold.

Here's a good article that describes the difference between colds and allergies in little ones:

http://www.parents.com/baby/health/allergy/all-about-baby...

I'd call your Pediatrician's office just to be sure if you're still concerned.Good luck - hope she feels better soon.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Could be an allergic reaction. I'd call you ped nurses line. If they agree, they can recommend the right dose of Benedryl.

1 mom found this helpful

T.D.

answers from Springfield on

call the 24 hour line for our pedi and get their advice. i know what my pedis office would say given my childs history. but your child is not mine and does not have the same history so call your childs dr and find out what to do.

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

I agree w/ Diane...could be the beginning of pink eye....and that rash thing could be anything...call their 24 nurse line and see what they suggest...

Hope she feels better

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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Can you send a pic of the rash to your pediatrician? I have heard of times it is just a heat rash, but some that it is the sign of my niece's scarlett fever. Hopefully it is nothing and just a rash with a small cold. Good luck

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Call your doctor but I would think Benedryl would help more with an itchy rash. Aquaphor is a moisturizer and therefore will do little if anything to help your daughter's symptoms.

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