DH has mystery illness

Allergic to penicillin?
I thought shingles was only ever one side, but couldn't comment on the other options. Sounds as if it might be connected to the virus however, so back to the dr I am afraid.
(Do antihistamines help?)

Is he in much pain? x

Well the GP will know better than me but could it be a reaction to antibiotics?

Sorry. Already mentioned.

I second Alea's post. I developed a rash after being prescribed Amoxycillin for tonsillitis.

We have several cases of Scarlet Fever locally, one of which I am told has been hospitalized. I hadn't heard of for years.

I agree it sounds like a penicillin allergy. Worth taking an antihistamine and good fluid intake to help flush drug out of system.

Hmm. It was Amoxycillin he had but he's taken it before with no ill effects. Mind you, when can an allergy start-they're not necessarily there from birth. He carries an epipen in case of wasp stings as he's had anaphylactic reaction before so he has form for allergic responses. Will suggest he tries an antihistamine. Thanks for suggestions

I would contact your GP re the Amoxycillin. There are other anti-biotics that will deal with a throat infection.

I think it would be better to return to GP and not self medicate. There are numerous conditions that present with a rash and the lethargy is another indication that all is not well.

A friend of mine in his 70s has just had glandular fever - I thought it was the kissing disease and just for teenagers!

Do you GP's do house calls? My mother always advised against taking anyone with a rash in to the surgery to sit among people. If it is something contagious you don't want to spread it around.
Luckygirl, my DD had glandular fever last summer for the second time! She had it first when she was 17!

If GP doesn't do house calls, maybe they could get a Community Nurse to call round?

There have been cases of scarlet fever here too, and the symptoms are similar I think, but surely your GP would have recognised it as such.

Shingles seems to be going round if that's possible - my cousin has just had it and another friend currently has it. I know it's related to chickenpox but it's extremely painful so if he's not in pain it probably isn't that. Hope they find out what's wrong.

Amoxycillin is related to penicillin( and flucloxacillin).You can develop an allergy at any stage even if you have had this class of drugs before.

Shingles is caused by the chicken pox virus. You cannot catch shingles off anyone. Once you have had chicken pox the virus lies dormant in the body and can come out as shingles at any stage. It is always one sided and the rash never crosses the mid line of the body. It is more likely to happen if you are .run down

Certainly my experience of shingles is extreme pain, worst I have experienced.
It follows nerve path ways and only affects one side, radiating from the spine, where the virus lays dormant. Unlike chicken pox, you can suffer more than once.

Oh and as said, you can't catch it, however I believe it is possible to catch chicken pox from shingles.

Yes, shingles is very painful, not itchy.
True, pompa, although I was nervous when the DD had chickenpox recently and I had been cuddling them.
DF was allergic to penicillin, and DH developed an allergy to it suddenly not long ago having never had a problem all his life.

A viral infection? Reaction to the antibiotics?
A friend recently had something called lichen planus which was very itchy, started on the trunk then spread, and took a long time to diagnose.

AS far as I am aware anti biotics will not help. There are antiviral drugs that can help. but they have to be administered in the very first few days.

I developed a penicillin allergy almost 50 years ago, having previously taken it with no ill effects. It's so inconvenient not being able to take penicillin and related antiBs.

Same here anno! I'm also either allergic to, or have severe adverse reactions to most antibiotics. Nightmare!

My son and his family have just been to stay with us for Easter. He was ill when he arrived and ended up at an OOH centre where he was diagnosed with strep throat. He also came out in a rash which I'd be prepared to put money on was Scarlet Fever, right down to the strawberry tongue. He lives in Surrey, where's there been a surge of SF cases including amongst adults.