Amoxicillin Rash

[smock]

Does anyone have experience with an amoxicillin rash? DD took amoxicillin last week for an ear infection, and on Wednesday she broke out in a red rash. We took her to the pedi, who diagnosed the rash and gave us some benedryl (and said to skip the last day of amoxi). I actually have the same reaction to amoxicillin, unfortunately.

Since Wednesday, the rash actually gotten bigger and more splotchy, even after multiple doses of benedryl. Everything I've read says amoxicillin rashes are normal, but it looks scary. I've got a call into the pedi, but they only have one doc in the office on Fridays so it could be a while before I get a call back. 

[Redpoppy]

My cousin's kid had a horrible amoxicillin rash, starting out normal but kept getting worse. He looked like he was in a boxing match. I think he ended up getting a steroid for it.

DS got the rash, but wasn't bad. We had him tested for penicillin allergy last year and turns out he isn't allergic.

[smock]

Luckily the ear infection is gone. Thank goodness for small favors!

[smock]

May 8, 2015 10:53:05 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

My cousin's kid had a horrible amoxicillin rash, starting out normal but kept getting worse. He looked like he was in a boxing match. I think he ended up getting a steroid for it.

DS got the rash, but wasn't bad. We had him tested for penicillin allergy last year and turns out he isn't allergic.

Yeah, I'm wondering if she needs something more heavy duty than benedryl, because it has only gotten worse. Plus she's pretty fussy today, which is always hard. 

[catsarecute]

DD had one back in February. It broke out a few weeks after her second dose of antibiotics for an ear infection. It took a 2.5% cream to wipe it out. As bad as it looked (and it was BAD: on her back and her face), it didn't seem to bother her at all. Oral meds didn't help it at all but the cream took effect immediately. I hope it goes away soon!

[Deleted]

My doc switched to another antibiotic. She said there are so many other options do there's no need to deal with the rash. She marked her down as having an allergy.

[spaghettisquash]

We just kept giving her Benadryl as my doc prescribed and discontinued the medicine. It cleared up pretty quickly after the medicine worked its way through her system. We then went switched to another kind that she was fine with.

Is she itchy at all? Sometimes oatmeal baths can soothe the itch.

[Deleted]

Hss she had vax recently as well?

DS got the worst inflated amox rash after he got vaccinated and a round of antibiotics in the same week. Thanks to the MMR and an ear infection.

Most godawful thing ever.

I'd take her back. My dr. gave me a couple benadryl hacks basically to ease the itch and clear it up much faster. It helped so much.

Baking soda in the bath works great too.

[smock]

She's not itchy, and no recent vaccines. She missed two days at dc last week for the EI, and three days this week for the rash. I'm really hoping she feels better by next week!

Oh, and I guess we'll reschedule the Mother's Day photo shoot.

Thanks for all the advice!

[dcn]

Ds got a rash the first time he took amoxicillin. It seemed to fade after a few days then came back. Though, we finished the whole rx per the pedi. We never gave Benadryl or anything, it just needs to work itself out. I think it lasted 6-7 days total?

He took amoxicillin again about a year later and didn't get a rash, only about 10% of kids get repeat rashes if they take it again and our pedi thought it was worth a try.

[crispnclean]

DS had a pretty bad reaction (erythema multiforme) to Amoxicillin (it was like the 3rd time he'd had it, and he was on day 8 of a 10 day dose when he broke out). We ended up at the ER and they said it takes about a day or two to get the abx out of their system and then should start to clear up. However, his actually got worse over the next few days. It took close to two weeks before it was completely gone.

The Benadryl really didn't do anything to clear up the rash. We were told there was nothing you can do to make it go away faster. You can only manage symptoms.

Sorry she is going through this. I hope it clears up soon.

[linz]

I had a reaction once but Benedryl cleared it up. I always make sure to tell Dr's that I have an allergy to it.

[scsarah]

May 8, 2015 11:58:35 GMT -5 crispnclean said:

DS had a pretty bad reaction (erythema multiforme) to Amoxicillin (it was like the 3rd time he'd had it, and he was on day 8 of a 10 day dose when he broke out). We ended up at the ER and they said it takes about a day or two to get the abx out of their system and then should start to clear up. However, his actually got worse over the next few days. It took close to two weeks before it was completely gone.

The Benadryl really didn't do anything to clear up the rash. We were told there was nothing you can do to make it go away faster. You can only manage symptoms.

Sorry she is going through this. I hope it clears up soon.

This was us - except the on call pedi at our office thought it was the erythema, and our actual pedi, and the ER, thought it was an allergic reaction.

I will say, make sure you check the dose of Benadryl.  We were traveling when this happened, so saw a new doctor first, and he was a family doctor, not a pedi.  So he severely underdosed DS on Benadryl.  Once we got him on the right dose, it did help a little, but it also made him a bit of a rage monster.

I hope it clears up soon.

[smock]

Update: We went back to the pedi this afternoon since the rash hasn't gotten any better. She's got some purple bruise-like marks in addition to the red rash, which the doctors determined is erythema multiforme (essentially a rash that can show up after antibiotics). Poor baby. She's now on two histamine blockers and steroids, and we're going back in on Monday. Our pedi is awesome and stayed 45 minutes after closing to figure out what DD needed, and to save us a trip to the ER. Let's hope she feels better soon!

Thanks again everyone!

[smock]

Second update: After getting a dose of two histamine blockers and the steroid last night, DD woke up looking so much better this morning! The rash is almost gone, and I'm feeling very relieved.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2015 10:45:43 GMT -5 @this said:

Ugh, amoxicillin is the fucking worst. DD took it a few times and always got a rash AND it never cleared up the ear infection. We always had to go to augmentin after that.

I hope the rash clears up and she feels better soon!

Augmentin is amoxicillin. Plus something else to make it stronger. So the rash part would still be a risk.

[bunnymendelbaum]

So glad she's feeling better! I actually am still suffering from an amoxi. rash and I stopped taking it a month ago. My rash showed up after my last dose.
It's pretty awful. I'm still occasionally itchy, I have scaly patches on my arms and legs, and my hands a peeling something awful. It's gross. Thank goodness I'm freckle-y because it's not that noticeable.

I wish I would have never taken it and I won't again. I've never to my knowledge had amoxi., but my brother did as a toddler and got the rash.