What are these bumps all over my mom's body?
July 18, 2017 7:21 PM Subscribe
My mom got one bump like this and a few hours later has more. PICS They're all over here body meaning one here or there on her torso, arms, legs. One pic shows an unirritated/undisturbed bump, the other is irritated because when it was just one she thought it was a pimple and tried to pop it.
My mom has all the standard vaccines as far as I know. She also has had the shingles vaccine. She has an appointment with her rheumetologist for RA tomorrow, so this probably doesn't warrant an ER visit but I just want to be sure.
What could it be? Also, I have an infant under 3 months who she saw yesterday. Should I be worried about contagion?
My mom has all the standard vaccines as far as I know. She also has had the shingles vaccine. She has an appointment with her rheumetologist for RA tomorrow, so this probably doesn't warrant an ER visit but I just want to be sure.
What could it be? Also, I have an infant under 3 months who she saw yesterday. Should I be worried about contagion?
Response by poster: I should add that the first one became filled with water. That's why she attempted to pop it. Also, there's no itch.
Finally, she also thinks they have the look of bug bites, but she's been inside all day (and not lying or sitting, so bed bugs would not have access I would think). The fact that they appeared while she was inside and up doing things when they appeared would seem to make bug bites less likely, I would think. But they do have the bug bite look.
Is there any sort of rash or illness that looks like bug bites but isn't? (I mean maybe it *is* bug bites, I'm not ruling it out, just saying that it doesn't feel like something she was at risk of today).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:39 PM on July 18, 2017
Finally, she also thinks they have the look of bug bites, but she's been inside all day (and not lying or sitting, so bed bugs would not have access I would think). The fact that they appeared while she was inside and up doing things when they appeared would seem to make bug bites less likely, I would think. But they do have the bug bite look.
Is there any sort of rash or illness that looks like bug bites but isn't? (I mean maybe it *is* bug bites, I'm not ruling it out, just saying that it doesn't feel like something she was at risk of today).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:39 PM on July 18, 2017
Contact dermatitis can look like bug bites.
posted by halogen at 7:48 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by halogen at 7:48 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
The pus-filled part sounds like fire ant bites, plus they swarm, but can't tell from the photos. Are they really all over her or just in some areas?
posted by DoubleLune at 8:36 PM on July 18, 2017
posted by DoubleLune at 8:36 PM on July 18, 2017
It could really be anything that irritated her skin, from an infection to an allergic reaction. Ask the doctor, maybe go to a dermatologist. There is no way for the Internet to diagnose this. Keep an eye on yourself and baby, and obviously keep mystery illness away from baby.
posted by zennie at 9:04 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zennie at 9:04 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Has she been taking any medicine lately? i have a friend whose husband noticed a rash he initially thought was poison ivy, or maybe shingles. Finally went to the doctor and got some steroids, it didn't clear up. Tried steroids again, rash kept spreading. I think he might have gotten a round of antibiotics but I can't even remember now. Fast forward to April 29th and he was hospitalized in a burn unit and diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis over 90% of his body. It also affected his intestines. After several very scary moments, he finally gets to go home Wednesday. He's an absolute walking miracle at this point.
So...I don't want to scare you and I don't even know what your mother has, but have it checked, keep an eye on it, ask the doctor lots of questions, and be very vigilant about any medicines she might be taking. While they don't know exactly what kicked off his reaction, something as simple as Advil may have been a contributing factor. His is definitely an extreme case but it has woken all of us up to paying WAY more attention to things that pop up on our skin and don't go away.
posted by MultiFaceted at 12:02 AM on July 19, 2017
So...I don't want to scare you and I don't even know what your mother has, but have it checked, keep an eye on it, ask the doctor lots of questions, and be very vigilant about any medicines she might be taking. While they don't know exactly what kicked off his reaction, something as simple as Advil may have been a contributing factor. His is definitely an extreme case but it has woken all of us up to paying WAY more attention to things that pop up on our skin and don't go away.
posted by MultiFaceted at 12:02 AM on July 19, 2017
Go to a doctor. That said, it could be heat rash. I get bumps like that (and some smaller ones) on my hands and arms when it gets very hot.
posted by mai at 9:03 AM on July 19, 2017
posted by mai at 9:03 AM on July 19, 2017
Could be molluscum too.
posted by pyjammy at 9:19 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pyjammy at 9:19 AM on July 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
They look like chickenpox to me. The varicella vaccines aren't always completely effective. Do they itch yet, it usually comes on over a few days.
posted by intergalacticvelvet at 9:01 AM on July 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by intergalacticvelvet at 9:01 AM on July 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: She has shingles, and is now kicking herself for not having gone to the ER the first day, like I suggested, to evaluate the possibility of shingles and have it treated immediately if that was it. I remember my doc telling me that if you get shingles treated at the ER in the first 48 hours it essentially just goes away and is nothing.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:49 PM on July 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:49 PM on July 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by halogen at 7:29 PM on July 18, 2017