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Suggest Treatment For Severe Itchy Spots On Back ,arms And Legs
Question: My husband has been itching for five days. They are little tiny pimple like spots on his back, arms and legs. He has had the chicken pox when he was younger, but not very bad. They do not hurt, just itch. He does not have a fever. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Drug to stop itches, clean and dry, watch carefully, report if fever or pus
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
It is very rare to have chicken pox twice in a life time. And again, the absence of fever makes the possibility, as you might rightly suspect very unlikely in his case.
Skin eruptions that itch in this case would very unlikely also be of any viral origin or an infection in this case. Absence of fever is a good clue.
the commonest condition that could have caused is simply he could be allergic to something. This could be an inflammation due to contact with some insect he never noticed or a substance that touched him. It is important to note if with time the itches and the pimples are decreasing, increasing or are the same. In cases of allergies, the intensity increases from the very start but normally should decrease progressively.
I would suggest he starts using drugs that fight against itches (antihistamines) sold over the counter. Keeping the affected region clean with warm water and dry should sufficient. Topical agents against itching could also be applied. In case this persists, you will need to see a doctor.
The inset of any fever or pus should also be a call for concern for detailed evaluation and antibiotics might then be needed.
At this point, I think what is needed is simple an antihistaminic drug (anti allergic drug) like topical Diphenhydramine to stop itches and keeping the area clean and dry, then we observe how it goes for a couple of days.
Thanks and kind regards as I wish him the best of health.
Dr Bain
Drug to stop itches, clean and dry, watch carefully, report if fever or pus
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,
It is very rare to have chicken pox twice in a life time. And again, the absence of fever makes the possibility, as you might rightly suspect very unlikely in his case.
Skin eruptions that itch in this case would very unlikely also be of any viral origin or an infection in this case. Absence of fever is a good clue.
the commonest condition that could have caused is simply he could be allergic to something. This could be an inflammation due to contact with some insect he never noticed or a substance that touched him. It is important to note if with time the itches and the pimples are decreasing, increasing or are the same. In cases of allergies, the intensity increases from the very start but normally should decrease progressively.
I would suggest he starts using drugs that fight against itches (antihistamines) sold over the counter. Keeping the affected region clean with warm water and dry should sufficient. Topical agents against itching could also be applied. In case this persists, you will need to see a doctor.
The inset of any fever or pus should also be a call for concern for detailed evaluation and antibiotics might then be needed.
At this point, I think what is needed is simple an antihistaminic drug (anti allergic drug) like topical Diphenhydramine to stop itches and keeping the area clean and dry, then we observe how it goes for a couple of days.
Thanks and kind regards as I wish him the best of health.
Dr Bain
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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