Can I use antiseptic healing cream to cure the red rashes in a 5-month-old baby?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 5-month-old daughter has red rashes all over her body for five days. Initially, it was just small red spots, but they have become more prominent and seem to be turning red, dry, or scabbed-looking. Should I take her to the doctor or apply any antiseptic healing cream? The rash is all over her body and seems to be more on her bum, wrist, and elbow.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

After going through the information provided from your end, I request you kindly provide details regarding the lesions for a confirmatory diagnosis. Is there any history of exposure to an allergen, insect bite, history of fever, and pus formation? Kindly attach an image, as it would be difficult to assess the lesion without an image.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello doctor,

I have gone through the history and images (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) provided by your end, and it appears as viral rashes. As you mentioned the presence of the fever your baby had a week back, the rashes that appeared are associated with the same. Viral rashes usually appear associated with fever and appear as red spots initially, which then increase in size and cause crusting and heal eventually. Do not worry; they usually subside on their own and are temporary. However, there are medications to fasten their healing and to reduce the discomfort caused by the rashes to your baby as a symptomatic relief. Besides antiseptic healing creams, other medications are better suited for reducing their intensity. My advice:

(Consult your specialist doctor, talk with them, and take medications with their consent.)

1. Light liquid paraffin bath formula may be used for cleaning the affected areas. Mix a cap full of the lotion in your baby's bath water and use them to wash the body. It will lessen the symptoms and redness caused due to the rashes.

2. Fusidic acid cream may be applied in the morning on the affected area after washing and drying the areas. This is an antibiotic to prevent secondary bacterial infection.

3. Hydrocortisone 1 % cream may be applied at night in a tiny (grain of rice) quantity only on the affected areas to reduce the redness and inflammation on the areas. Make sure the areas are clean and dry before applying the medication. They may be used for a maximum period of two weeks.

4. Lukewarm water may be used for soaking and applying on the affected areas, which would help with faster healing and may be done for five minutes once daily.

5. Make sure your baby gets enough sleep and rest and is breastfed well, which helps with faster healing and reducing the inflammation of the rashes.

Having said that, since there was a history of fever, I would also like to advise you to consult a pediatrician in person to examine your baby for any other underlying infections and to rule out any persistence of the infection. Since your baby is small, it is always advised to have them checked in person by a professional to avoid complications and for early treatment of any underlying infections. But do not worry; their intensity and recurrence may be reduced with the proper treatment.

Thank you.