Serious childhood rashes
15-minute read
Take your child to the hospital urgently if your child has a rash and any of the following symptoms: high temperature, is bothered by light, seems confused, has a stiff neck or difficulty breathing.
Key facts
- Rashes in childhood are common and usually harmless.
- Rashes can have many different appearances.
- Often a rash will spread to most of the body before it goes away.
- Always call your doctor before attending an appointment, so they can manage any potential infection risk.
- You can protect your child from some infectious conditions 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. Most rashes are caused by common viral infections.
Rashes can have many different appearances. They can be:
- red
- flat
- bumpy
- have blisters
Some rashes look the same while others are quite unique. Often a rash will spread to most of the body before it goes away. A rash may last for 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 as you don’t 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.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection. It’s caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is usually mild but can lead to serious complications such as meningitis and pneumonia.
Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from catching chickenpox.
What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Take your child to the doctor if their blisters get infected or if your child becomes increasingly unwell.
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 when they have chickenpox.
What is the treatment for chicken pox?
There is no specific treatment for chickenpox. Scratching the spots can cause scars, but you can treat them with calamine lotion to reduce the itch.
Children are contagious until all the blisters have dried up. During this time, keep your child home from childcare or school. Try to keep them away from newborn babies and people with a weak immune system.
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, stay away from people with chickenpox. 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 can occur on various parts of the body, including:
- the mouth
- fingers
- palms of hands
- nappy area
- soles of the feet
- upper arms and upper legs
The blisters last about a week.
Some children may also have a fever, sore throat, runny nose or cough.
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?
If your child has symptoms of anaphylaxis, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
Hives, or urticaria, is a skin rash which can be caused by an allergic reaction. This can happen when your child’s immune system responds to an allergen such as a certain food.
Hives usually lasts for a few hours once the trigger has been removed. Sometimes no trigger is found.
What are the symptoms of hives?
Hives are slightly raised, red patches of skin called wheals. They occur in groups on any part of the body. They can look like mosquito bites and are often itchy. Sometimes they sting.
Some children may also have a more serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:
- swelling of the lips and tongue
- tightness in the throat
- feeling breathless or noisy breathing
- wheezing, coughing or hoarse voice
- becoming pale and floppy
What is the treatment for hives?
If hives are the only symptom, it can usually be safely managed at home.
You can help treat your child’s hives by:
- helping your child avoid known triggers for hives
- avoiding things that make their rash worse —sunshine, heat and hot showers
- helping to relieve the itching and stinging by applying a cool compresses — a face washer soaked in cool water
- giving them a non-drowsy antihistamine medicine
Always speak with your pharmacist for advice on the best treatment for your child.
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What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious complications and be life-threatening. It is rare in Australia, but travellers from overseas or unvaccinated people can spread measles.
You can protect your child from measles by making sure they are up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations. 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 just a cold. Your child might have a cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (sore, watery eyes). They might also have tiny white spots inside their mouth.
After a few days, a rash of red, slightly raised spots appears. This starts on the head and spreads to the body, arms and legs. The rash is not itchy.
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 and most children can be cared for at home.
Children with measles should be kept at home for at least 4 days after the rash appears.
What is meningococcal disease?
If you think your child might have meningococcal disease, seek medical attention immediately or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
Meningococcal disease is not common but is very serious. It is caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency, as it can be life threatening.
What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease can cause several symptoms, including a rash. The rash appears as tiny red or purple pinpricks that spread into blotches. The rash is a non-blanching rash. This means that when you press on the rash with the side of a glass it doesn’t disappear.
Other symptoms of meningococcal disease are:
- fever
- headache
- neck stiffness
- being sensitive to light
- nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite
- drowsiness
These symptoms can appear before the rash.
What is the treatment for meningococcal disease?
If your child has meningococcal disease, they will be admitted to hospital. They will be monitored and given intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Meningococcal disease is contagious.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the 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 often affects the elbows and knees. Psoriasis can also cause:
- itching
- irritation
- burning
- stinging
Psoriasis is not contagious.
What is the treatment for psoriasis?
Psoriasis can come and go, or it can be a life-long condition. There is no cure, but it can usually be controlled with treatment.
If you think your child might have psoriasis, see your doctor. They may refer you to a dermatologist (a skin doctor) who can help you manage the condition.
Severe psoriasis can be difficult to manage. It is associated with other health problems such as psoriatic arthritis.
What is scarlet fever?
Scarlet fever is a contagious infection that is often caused by group A streptococcus infection of the throat. Scarlet fever mainly affects children aged 1 to 10 years.
What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?
Children with scarlet fever typically have:
- a sore throat
- a fever
- a fine rash on their abdomen (tummy)
The rash looks like sunburn, but feels like sand paper. The rash usually lasts 2 to 5 days. Your child might also develop a very red tongue. This is called ‘strawberry tongue’. They may also feel generally unwell.
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 can help prevent the bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. This stops it from causing serious health problems like rheumatic fever.
Keep your child at home until at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
What should I do next?
If you are concerned about your child’s rash, check your symptoms with healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker. 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 a hospital or calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
Resources and support
You can protect your child against some infectious diseases with routine childhood vaccinations. This includes measles, chickenpox and some types of meningococcal disease.
Learn more about common childhood rashes that are not serious.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: February 2024
