Could the rash on my baby be related to something I ate?
Patient: My daughter is almost 3 months old and I am breastfeeding. Yesterday afternoon she developed an itchy rash on her head, neck, chest and back. Several hours later I noticed it had spread to the inside of her arms. The rash resembled hives as the red areas were raised and irregularly shaped. She did not have a fever. Could the rash be an allergic reaction to something that I ate? I have not changed any detergents/soaps. The only new thing was that I ate some strawberries the about 6 hours before her rash developed. Thank you. Doctor: Hi,Sudden onset of raised, red and itchy rash over body indicates an acute urticaria. This can be a manifestation of allergy to some insult (but unlikely to your diet), a viral illness or to an infection somewhere in the body.But, since she do not have fever or other symptoms now, we need not worry. Just apply calamine lotion over the lesions 2 times a day for 3-5 days. If it is not coming down by then, or if she develops fever, kindly take to her to pediatrician, as this will need antihistamines and steroids for few days along with treatment of any infection.Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Regards, Dr. Muhammed Aslam T. K., Pediatrician