Health · Public Health & Disease · 1 day ago
Paediatrician explains common causes of rashes in children
Skin rashes are common in children and can have several causes, including viral infections, allergies, eczema, insect bites and skin irritation.
Paediatrician Prakash Vaidya of Fortis Hospital Mulund in Mumbai says a rash should be assessed in context, rather than judged from a quick look.
A child’s fever and when the rash appears in relation to it can offer clues.
Dengue, chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease can cause rashes, while hives and eczema are among other possibilities.
The rash’s appearance and distribution can help distinguish conditions, but different rashes may look similar.
Medical assessment is important to identify the cause and check for possible complications, especially with dengue.
The source gives no specific next steps beyond seeking medical assessment when needed.
A paediatrician says childhood rashes can have many causes, including viral infections, allergies, eczema, insect bites and skin infections.
Dr Prakash Vaidya says a rash should be assessed carefully rather than dismissed or judged on a cursory inspection.
Fever, the timing of a rash and its distribution can help doctors identify its cause.
Chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease can cause blister-like rashes, while eczema often causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin.
Parents should seek medical assessment when a rash may signal an infection or complication.
- Who
- Dr Prakash Vaidya, a senior consultant in paediatrics at Fortis Hospital Mulund, discusses childhood rashes.
- What
- He explains possible causes and signs that can help assess a child's rash.
- When
- Hindustan Times published the article on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The interview was for HT Lifestyle; Vaidya is based at Fortis Hospital Mulund in Mumbai.
- Why
- The article aims to help parents understand common rash causes and when medical assessment may be needed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A skin rash is amongst the commonest reasons my patients’ parents reach out to me
The one thing that I have learnt from long practice experience is this, never make rash decisions and dismiss any skin rash as trivial or pronounce any rash as serious merely on a cursory inspection. You really need to look beneath the surface to evaluate the rash holistically
Some diseases show up with a blister-like rash, notably chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease, where the distribution of the rash is the key to the diagnosis
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Common causes
- Viral infections, allergies, eczema, insect bites and skin infections
- Viral infections named
- Influenza, dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease
- Blister-like rash conditions
- Chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease
- Eczema symptoms
- Dry, itchy and inflamed skin
- Article publication
- October 10, 2026
Sources
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