Dot, dot, comma, dash: teething problems with red spots, so healthy

Measles, rubella, scarlet fever and chickenpox cause red spots on the skin. But how do the typical teething problems differ?

Find out here how the red spots differ in childhood diseases, what other symptoms are and what helps against them.

measles

Measles red spots:

With measles infection caused by human-pathogenic RNA virus, the child gets a blotchy, red rash between the third and seventh day after the appearance of the first symptoms. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) describes the points in the childhood disease as brownish-pink and irregular. The spots first appear behind the ears and then spread from the face over the body.

Other symptoms:

Fever, cough and runny nose, inflamed eyes and small white or white-blue spots on the oral mucosa, so-called Koplik spots

What helps?

Vaccination against is basically measles possible. If the disease does break out, it only helps to relieve the symptoms. Bed rest is the order of the day, and antipyretic or cough suppressants can help.

rubella

Red spots on rubella:

Rubella usually causes small red spots, which are weaker than measles and are often accompanied by nodules. The red dots spread from the face over the body and finally over the arms and legs. They disappear after a day or three.

Other symptoms:

high temperature, a headache, Runny nose, conjunctivitis, swollen lymph nodes.

What helps?

As with measles, as with rubella, only the symptoms can be treated. A rubella vaccination is also preventive. Doctors usually give the live vaccine in combination with the vaccination against mumps and measles. If the child should go to a crib before the eleventh month of life, this can also be done from the ninth month, according to the RKI.

Scarlet fever

Red spots in scarlet fever:

The skin and throat turn red. The pin-sized spots usually appear first on the upper body. From there they spread all over the body. The rash subsides after six to nine days. Scarlet fever is mainly transmitted through droplet infection or direct human-to-human contact, rarely through contaminated food and water.

Other symptoms:

Sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, chills, headache and body aches, white coating and swelling on the tongue.

What helps?

Scarlet fever is triggered by streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes), i.e. bacteria, and treated with a ten-day penicillin treatment. There is no vaccination. Prevent can be done with hygiene measures such as thorough hand washing. Children can get scarlet fever more often, those affected only become immune to the type of bacteria that triggered the acute disease.

chickenpox

Red spots in chickenpox:

The typical rash for chickenpox (varicella) comes in batches, forms blisters, papules and scab. Accordingly, the appearance is sometimes called the "starry sky". The itching can be very severe. The red dots spread from the trunk to the face over the whole body and heal after about ten days.

Other symptoms:

Body aches, fever, fatigue.

What helps?

The vesicles should not be scratched. Otherwise, doctors mainly treat the symptoms with lotions, for example. Intensive skin care can also avoid further bacterial infections. The Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) recommends varicella vaccination for all children and adolescents. From the age of 11 to 14 months, the little ones receive the first dose – either simultaneously with the first MMR vaccination (short for measles, mumps, rubella) or four weeks afterwards. The second vaccination takes place between the ages of 15 and 23 months. Anyone who has had chickenpox is usually immune to it. But not against shingles, although it is triggered by the same virus, namely the varicella zoster virus, which is transmitted by droplet infection.

Which teething problems with rash still exist?

Other teething problems can also be associated with a rash. These include baby acne, three-day fever, hand-foot-mouth disease, ringing rubella, hives, neurodermatitis, scabies, fungal infections on the buttocks of baby children and diaper rash.

Basically: A first self-diagnosis does not replace a visit to the doctor’s consultation. Only a doctor can ultimately correctly diagnose and treat the disease.