What are sores popping up on my chil'd head?

[jonderrick]

My 2 year old child has bite like sores popping up all over his scalp.Some are small with tiny pinprick holes and a few are larger than dime size.  They are oozing a clear liquid  that crusts over. They do itch.  There is also a bump behind his right ear that feels like a swollen lymph node.  He did this last October and I thought it started with flea bite but was not sure.  The pediatrician diagnosed him with folliculitis and started antibiotics- it cleared up within about a week.  I never saw any true bites on him then. This time it just came on suddenly- felt like 2 or 3 bug bites on his scalp Monday (none on his body) and by wed. he had these large oozing sores. He was on a 10 day round of Cleocin for tonsilitis thru Tues.  (The next day he had oozing sores) so I feel this should not be bacterial folliculitis again. I have seen no fleas on him or in the house.  The rest of the family has no bites at all. I am at my wits end!  He seems to have very sensitive skin and we frequently have mysterious rashes anytime he gets sick.  These oozing sores are just scarey! Please help!

[nikiskisound]

I  get noseeum bites every summer in Alaska. I agree with you. They are painful knots that itch something fierce. I found that clear nail polish helps alot. It kills the itch at least. Doesn't help the pain. Now my 7 yr old grandson has them....he has a low grade temp. I'm taking him to dr. tomorrow.

[Yo_B]

why can't I find a picture to compare to the bites my child has? I have been online all evening looking for 1 photo of a noseeum bite on a human, and can't locate any at all. There are photos of all sorts of bug bites, but no noseeum bites. Strange. If anyone can post a picture, that would be cool.

[Sheri9963]

Hello, I have bites that sound similar to your sons. Mine are from the tiny little gnats called no see ums. They are horrible and I have had mine for about 5 weeks. Once you scratch them they scab over and itch and burn. It's like a vicous cycle because when they never seem to heal if you scratch them at all. The ones that have healed are leaving pink flat scars. I did see a doctor who prescribed an antibiotic, but it doesn't seem to be helping. These bugs are small enough to come in through your screens in the windows. If he's not being bitten when outside they could be getting into your house. Good luck!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

I suggest that a culture of the discharge be done .A gram stain for the discharge would also help determine the possible organism that may be causing this. The results of these tests will help guide treatment later on. Also ,skin scrapings may be obtained from the area so that fungal infections may also be determined.

This may be a reaction to insect bites or it may be a form of fungal infection called tinea capitis. The diagnosis of a fungal infection has to be established since tinea capitis requires oral antifungals.