Allergic Reaction

Yesterday morning we noticed a rash on Aletheia's neck and belly. At first we thought it was chicken pox starting because we knew she had been exposed. But as the rash spread over her torso, it became clear that it was something else entirely. So we took her to an afterhours clinic to try to get some answers.

The doctor took one look at her, his eyes got big and he said, "I've never seen anything like this, but it looks terrible." To put it mildly, not exactly what we were hoping to hear. "Take her to the emergency room."

So, off we went. After hours of testing and waiting, the doctor there tentatively decided that Aletheia probably had pityriasis, but he couldn't be sure, and said to come back if the symptoms changed.

Overnight, the symptoms changed. The rash spread to her face (ruling out pityriasis, which rarely affects the face), and her hands and feet swelled. We called a pediatrician and he said, "Go back to the E.R. Now." So, back we went.

This time the doctor was certain. "This child can never have amoxicillin again. That's a definite allergic reaction." They gave her a steroid shot and sent us home with a prescription for an oral steroid to give her this week.

It's kind of hard to look at your baby girl and see her all splotchy and swollen, especially when a series of doctors can't come up with a clear answer. Nice to finally know what's going on.