Often a rash is ignored as it is expected to not be a problem. A rash can occur for many reasons such as an allergy, heat exposure or from a virus and these are not a problem and therefore people tend not to worry about them at all. However, there are some types of rashes that should not be ignored and it is important to know how to identify them and what to do.
Measles
Measles are often thought to be a harmless childhood disease. Unfortunately there can be complicated side effects and although most common in children, it can affect adults as well. It can sometimes cause life threatening complications such as pneumonia, miscarriage, bronchitis, encephalitis or even death. The rash is made up on tiny flat pink spots.
Chicken Pox
Chicken Pox is often an illness that affects children and is not often dangerous. It produces blisters and it can cause complications such as encephalitis, bacterial infection or pneumonia and also problems in pregnancy.
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis affects the nervous system and there is inflammation caused to the spine and brain. This can be fatal or cause brain damage. The rash is made up of dark red spots which do not fade when touch or gently pressed with a glass.
HIV Infection
A rash can be one symptom of an HIV infection. It is often a sign of AIDS starting to develop. It can be misdiagnosed especially as the symptoms can vary so much.
There are also more rare diseases that can have a rash as a symptom, although they often have other symptoms that would be more associated with that disorder.
It is easy to assume that a rash is nothing serious and just ignore it. It can feel wring to bother a doctor with a rash as so often they are not an indication of anything serious. It is probably best to see your GP if you have any other symptoms that are bothering you as well or if the rash does not go away or start to get better within a reasonable amount of time. You will know how long your body usually takes to heal and so you will know how long might be normal for a rash to disappear.
It is important not to be afraid to go to the doctor if the rash is bothering you though. It may be sore or itchy and it can help to be prescribed something that will make it feel better. The doctor will also be able to look at the type of rash and know whether it is something you should be concerned about. If you have an illness or disease or are on medication, then it is more important to see your doctor quickly. This is because you may need to have a change of medication as it could be a side effect or it may be a sign that something is wrong. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.
You can also find out more about arm pit rash, symptoms and how it can be treated-here.
