From the Nurse's Desk

Where do rashes come from?

Did you ever wake up to find red dots, splotches or bumps on your body? This is called a rash. Rashes can be caused by many things. Most often they are harmless and they go away all by themselves.

If the rash is bothering you, you can:

• Tell an adult.
• Put on special skin creams or lotions to make the itching better.
• Take a warm Aveeno^® bath.
• Take medicine with acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) to make you feel more comfortable.
• Ask the school nurse to look at your rash first thing in the morning.
• Call your doctor if it doesn't go away.

Sometimes rashes are a sign of another health problem. If you don't know what caused the rash, it is best to stay home from school until you find out if other people could catch it. If you have a rash and also have a fever or cough, trouble breathing, soreness or tightness in your throat, or trouble swallowing, call your health care provider. Special medicines may need to be ordered.

Activity
Find information with pictures of rashes and check out all the different kinds.

Last revised: June 4, 2007 (dh))

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.