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Serious childhood rashes

Warning:

If you or your child has a rash of small, bright-red or purple spots or bruises that do not fade when you press on them, along with a fever, headache, stiff neck or back pain, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.

Warning:

If your child has suddenly developed a rash and is having difficulty breathing, they could be having a life-threatening allergic reaction. Use an adrenaline autoinjector immediately. Then call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Follow an ASCIA allergy action plan, if you have one.

Key facts

  • Rashes in childhood are usually harmless, but sometimes they can be serious.
  • There are many kinds of rashes that look different and have different causes. 
  • A rash may spread to most of the body before it goes away.
  • If your child has a rash, always call your doctor before going to an appointment so they can manage any potential infection risk.
  • You can protect your child from some infections by making sure that they get their routine childhood vaccinations.

Is my child's rash serious?

Rashes in babies and children are quite common and usually harmless. Viral infections (Opens in new tab) are a common cause of rashes in children.

Rashes can have many different appearances. They can be:

  • red
  • flat
  • bumpy
  • blistering

A rash may last from days to weeks.

Some rashes are cause for concern and need medical treatment.

If your child has a rash, do not go to the clinic. You do not want to infect other people in the waiting room. Instead, call your doctor and they will tell you the safest way to see them. They may give you the option of a home visit or telehealth appointment.

Promotional tile showing a child with a rash and text explaining that more information can be found here for School exclusion periods.

For more information on school exclusion periods.

Types of rashes

If your child has a rash, this may be a sign of an infection or reaction such as chickenpox, hand, foot and mouth disease, hives, measles, meningococcal disease, psoriasis or scarlet fever. 

Preparing for an appointment? See our tips on questions to ask your doctor.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a contagious viral infection. It is caused by a virus called varicella zoster.

Chickenpox is usually mild but can lead to serious complications such as encephalitis (Opens in new tab) or pneumonia (Opens in new tab).

Vaccination is an effective way to protect your child from catching chickenpox.

Read the vaccination guide for more information. 

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

The main symptom of chickenpox is an itchy, red rash.

During the illness, the spots turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters then burst, dry up and form scabs. These will then drop off. Your child may have many blisters or just a few.

Your child may also have a mild fever and feel unwell for a few days before they develop their rash.

You should take your child to the doctor if their blisters get infected or if your child becomes increasingly unwell.

Image of chickenpox on skin.

Chickenpox on a child's stomach.

What is the treatment for chickenpox?

There is no specific treatment for chickenpox. Scratching the spots can cause scars. 
You can speak with your child’s doctor or pharmacist for advice on how to treat scars.  

Children with chickenpox are contagious until all the blisters have dried up. During this time, keep your child home from childcare or school. You should try to keep them away from newborn babies and people with a weak immune system (Opens in new tab).

Stay away from people with chickenpox if you are pregnant (Opens in new tab) or trying to get pregnant. Chickenpox can affect your unborn baby.

What is hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood infection. It mainly occurs in children under 10 years of age.

What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease?

The main symptom of hand, foot and mouth disease is tiny blisters. These blisters can occur on many parts of your child’s body, including their:

  • mouth
  • hands
  • bottom
  • soles of their feet

The blisters last about a week.

Some children may also have a fever.

Hand, foot and mouth disease on a child's foot

Image of hand, foot and mouth disease on skin.

What is the treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease?

Usually, no treatment is needed for hand, foot and mouth disease. If your child has a fever you may want to give them paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Mouth blisters can make it difficult for your child to eat or drink.

Children should be kept at home until all their blisters have dried up. The blisters should not be deliberately burst because the fluid within them is infectious.

What is hives?

Warning:

If you think you, your child or someone you know is experiencing anaphylaxis, use the adrenaline autoinjector immediately. Then call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Follow an ASCIA allergy action plan, if you have one.

Hives (Opens in new tab) (also called urticaria) is a skin rash that is caused by an allergic reaction (Opens in new tab). An allergic reaction happens when your child’s immune system responds to an allergen, such as a certain food.

Hives usually last for a few hours once the trigger has been removed. Often you won’t know what the trigger is.

What are the symptoms of hives?

Hives is a type of rash with slightly raised, red patches of skin called wheals. They can be in groups in one area or all over your body. They may look like insect stings and are often itchy.

Some children may also have a more serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis (Opens in new tab). 

Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:   

Hives on skin

Image of hives on skin.

What is the treatment for hives?

If hives are your child’s only symptom, you can safely manage the condition at home. Usually, hives last for a few days or weeks and will resolve on their own. 

You can help treat hives by:

  • helping your child avoid known triggers
  • avoiding things that make their rash worse — sunshine, heat and hot showers 
  • relieving itching and stinging by applying cool compresses — a face washer (washcloth) soaked in cool water. 
  • giving them non-drowsy antihistamine (Opens in new tab) medicine

Speak with your pharmacist (Opens in new tab) for advice on the right treatment for your child.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious complications and be life-threatening. Measles is rare in Australia, but travellers from overseas or unvaccinated people can spread it.

You can protect your child from measles by making sure they are up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations (Opens in new tab). In Australia, children are vaccinated against measles at 12 months and 18 months of age.

What are the symptoms of measles?

At first, measles can seem like a cold. Your child may have a cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (sore, watery eyes). They may also have tiny white spots inside their mouth.

After a few days, your child may start to develop a red rash with slightly raised spots. This starts on their head and spreads down their body, arms and legs. The rash is not itchy.

Measles on a stomach

Image of measles on skin.

What is the treatment for measles?

Call your doctor if you think your child may have measles.

Your doctor may ask you to come to the clinic when other patients are not around. This is to avoid infecting other patients. They may also take you and your child to a separate room.

There is no specific treatment for measles. Most children can be cared for at home.

Children with measles should stay at home for at least 4 days after the rash appears.

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease (Opens in new tab) is not common, but it is serious. It is caused by a type of bacteria (Opens in new tab) called Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency, as it can be life-threatening.

Warning:

If you think your child might have meningococcal disease, seek medical attention immediately or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease can cause several symptoms, including a rash. The rash looks like tiny red or purple pinpricks that spread into blotches. The rash is non-blanching. This means that when you press on the rash with the side of a glass, it does not fade.

Other symptoms of meningococcal disease are:

These symptoms can appear before your child develops a rash.

 

meningococcal on a foot

Image of meningococcal disease on skin.

What is the treatment for meningococcal disease?

If your child has meningococcal disease, they will need to stay in hospital. They will be monitored and given intravenous (IV) antibiotics (Opens in new tab).

Meningococcal disease is contagious.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis (Opens in new tab) is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of your skin.

What are the symptoms of psoriasis?

Psoriasis may develop as only a few dry, red, scaly patches (known as ‘plaques’) on the skin. It can affect your child’s elbows, knees, palms, soles and fingernails. Psoriasis can also cause:

  • itching
  • irritation
  • burning
  • pain

Your child’s symptoms can vary from mild to severe. 

Psoriasis is not contagious.

Psoriasis plaques

Image of psoriasis on skin.

What is the treatment for psoriasis?

Psoriasis can come and go, or it can be a lifelong condition. There is no cure, but it can usually be controlled with treatment.

See your doctor if you think your child may have psoriasis. They may refer you to a dermatologist (Opens in new tab) (a skin doctor) who can help you manage the condition.

Severe psoriasis can be difficult to manage. It is sometimes linked with other health problems such as psoriatic arthritis (Opens in new tab).

What is scarlet fever?

Scarlet fever (Opens in new tab) is a contagious infection that is often caused by a group A streptococcus (Opens in new tab) infection of the throat. Scarlet fever can affect people of all ages. 
Children aged 5 to 15 years are the most affected.

What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?

If your child has scarlet fever, they may have:

  • a sore throat (Opens in new tab)
  • a fever
  • a rash all over their body that looks like sunburn and feels like sandpaper 
  • a red tongue called ‘strawberry tongue’

Your child may also feel generally unwell.

scarlet fever on a child's back

Image of scarlet fever on skin.

What is the treatment for scarlet fever?

If you think your child has scarlet fever, take them to your doctor.

Scarlet fever can easily be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics (Opens in new tab) can help stop the bacteria (Opens in new tab) from spreading to other parts of the body. They can also help stop your child from developing serious complications, including rheumatic fever (Opens in new tab).

Keep your child at home until at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment and feeling better.

What should I do if I am worried about my child's rash?

If you are concerned about your child’s rash, check your symptoms with healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker (Opens in new tab). This will give you advice on when to seek medical attention.

The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps. This could be self-care, talking to a health professional, going to hospital or calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

If you need to see your doctor but cannot wait for an appointment, you may be able to get treatment at a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Opens in new tab). Use the Service Finder (Opens in new tab) to find your nearest one.

Resources and support

Learn more about measles (Opens in new tab) on the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website.  

Read about meningococcal infection (Opens in new tab) on the Sydney Children’s Health Network website. 

You can protect your child against some infectious diseases with routine childhood vaccinations. This includes measles, chickenpox and some types of meningococcal disease.

Languages other than English

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has translated resources about rashes (Opens in new tab) in many community languages. 

 

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Vaccination for Our Mob has information about measles and the measles vaccine (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: April 2026

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