Rash on 2 daughters, not responding to kenacomb but left for another week while rash worsens by the day

If there is someone who can help me, please comment, i will be greatful for any ideas that may come & i can look into..

Simplified version

Day 3 - Daughter 2 still unwell, Day 5 - got chicken pox like spots.. i didnt worry and let her stay unwell and spotty.
Day 10 spots radically changed, went to gp - she suggested ring worm??? Daughter quite sick... kids hospital thought perhaps target lesions.??? Day 11 saw specialist - he glanced at her for 3 seconds and said pityriasis rosea... went home & looked it up & really felt it didnt match what my daughter (by now both daughters) had.... Daughter 1 much more florid, daughter 2 getting that way... Day 17... started Kenacomb Day 19 after 6 rounds of kenacomb still no response. told to either stay on kenacomb or not bother, was up to me.... Then told to see another specialist next week....

Both daughters have the rash but they assure me it is not contagious????

Told to send them to school and explain that its not contagious... even though both kids are tired and off food

Please see attached photo to see what i mean

Any advice is greatly appreciated.. thank you

[CassCore]

http://books.google.com/books?id=Woq0HVYwr4kC&pg=PA342&lpg=PA342&dq=kenacomb+and+pityriasis+rosea&source=bl&ots=yJJ4JyAZfX&sig=kgyGq4tN5yp9kXJ6MOhRYI8Zlzk&hl=en&ei=6kklTpzINIrd0QHs7KjRCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=kenacomb%20and%20pityriasis%20rosea&f=false

I just wanted to send you this link because it lists quite a few skin diseases that you may want to take a look at. I did some research for you :) and I do think that your child has pityriasis rosea as opposed to ringworm for the following reasons
1. In the picture your daughter's inner ring is more prominent than in ringworn.
2. They both had what you call herald patches or the chicken pox like lesions you noticed which is textbook pityriasis.
3. They are not responding to kenabomb. This is because Pityirasis is most likely caused by a virus, not a fungus. However oral antihistamines (Benadryl) can help with itching.
4. This can last up to 14 weeks and can be reoccuring (although uncommon) similar to a cold sore caused by the herpes virus. (Pityriasis Rosea is thought to be caused by a herpes virus).
5. This condition is very common in children,

It is curious that your daughters both developed this at the same time. although not uncommon. Doctor's don't totally understand how it can occur in more than one family member at a time, but not be contagious from person to person. Seems to contradict, I understand, but some medical mysteries simply need more research. All I can guess is that similar to cold sores that can run in families...your daughters are both carriers of this virus. A skin scraping test can be done to 100% diagnose your daughters with the correct thing. However PR is not harmful and does not scar if you can keep them from itching. I really hope this problem resolves itself and your daughters are happy and healthy again soon! I hope this helps!

[maatson]

These are typical EM minor traget lesions, possibly following chicken pox, in both kids. These would settle down in a week or two. Quite rare to occur as a cluster, but then could well be due to immune factors.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since both your daughters are having this rash at the same time, hence it can be due to a viral rash or pityriasis rosea as her doctor has suggested. If it is a viral rash then it is usually contagious and can spread. Also the diagnosis of pityriasis rosea needs to be confirmed because it is a non contagious rash.

I suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get the rash examined from him.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Bstar80]

Thank you all very much for your time & effort, it is greatly appreciated!

We have since seen another paediatric dermatologist and had scrapings done - its a confirmed fungal infection. As it was left for 22 days with no treatment (while we did the viral rash dance) the kids became extremely florid with the rash. They are both on Risovin (antibiotic that treats fungal infections) and will hopefully be on the rd to recovery. The cause was our new little kitten we bought from the vet.

[maatson]

This is in retrospect a fungal infection missed, thanks to kenacomb! Steroids appied on a fungal patch change it so much that it becomes virtually unrecognizable (Tinea incognitio). This is a zoonotic fungus and thus the florid presentation. I am kicking my self to have missed out this spotter!