itchy pimplelike rash

[Sara12]

In March of this year I developed an itchy rash with pimplelike eruptions, almost mosquitolike. It has subsided some from the onset in March, it actually appears to have changed around August. Everyday it itches, but most days not as badly as before, then about once or twice a week I will wake up with massive hives on my back (beside shoulder & armpit). Afterwards I will have bitelike marks that tend to go away around 10 days.  I have been to many doctor's( derm's included) with fear of scabies. I have treated myself me muliple doses of Kwellada, & sulphur. Although no   one felt the need for taking any skin samples, biopsies, etc, they cannot even begin to tell me what this is. I am a mid fifties business woman (I have to stay in hotels from time to time) in a marriage for 30+ years.  


This discussion is related to itchy rash on chest, stomach, breast has been spreading.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The normal platelet levels are 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter. Thrombocytopenia or low platelet count is found in vitamin B 12 or folic acid deficiency, leukemia, sepsis, liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytic purpura, SLE or medication induced. My sincere advice would be to consult a physician regarding the same.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Sara12]

I so appreciate your insight as to my current issue. I have gone so far as to book an appointment with a leading clinic in the United States. My visit will take place in the latter part of  February with a doctor who is a dermatologist, & also an internist.

What would you think of the previously mentioned symptoms coupled with reoccuring UTI infections & a platelet count of 122. 125 being the bottom end of normal in my country. I mention this as I know some countries use different scales for various medical testing results.

I would love to know your opinion.

Please don't fear upsetting or scaring me as that truly is not an issue for me. I am a strong & positive person, not easily upset buy such things.

Please respond with any thoughts you may have on these findings.

[sweetpea51784]

I would look into bed bugs. I had bud bugs in july , that I suspect I brought back unknowingly when I traveled. Every 1- 2 weeks I would wake up with pimple like bites that were super itchy. noone could tell me what it was then one day i found a bug on my bed, called an exterm. and found out it was a bed bug. turns out bed bugs are really hard to catch cuz they only come out at night , usually between 3am and 5 am , and only feed once a week to once every 2 weeks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
What you seem to be having is chronic hives. It is defined as urticaria that persists for longer than 6 weeks. In most of the cases of chronic urticaria, the underlying pathology is idiopathic i.e. it is not linked to any cause. It is essential to rule out the presence of serious illnesses of which recurring hives can be a symptom. Examples are hepatitis, hyperthyroidism, lymphomas, collagen vascular diseases, and cancers of the rectum, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.

I feel that you should find out the cause of your chronic urticaria by ruling out the various conditions causing it. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Sara12]

Yes, I did wash everything for months. To be honest I really don't believe anymore that it is scabies. And nothing comes out, if I were to squeeze( which they really are unsqueezable) it would just be blood...like a mosquito bite.  I have been to several derms, internist & medical doctors. No one knows at all what it is.

Thanks much for your response. Any other insight would be appreciated.

[Setaka]

When you squeeze one of the pimples, do you get a hard, pearl-type nodule from inside, or is it fluid?

After you treated yourself with scabies medications, did you wash your sheets and bedding in hot water?

Pimple-like rashes can be anything from: fleas, scabies, vericella, molluscum contageosum, bed bugs, autoimmune response....  Without further knowledge I'd say see a dermatologist.

What would be of importance is to know "what comes out of them" when you extract one.  Where are they located exactly?  Centralized or intermittant all over your body?  Any other symptoms like fever?  Do they follow a pattern like shingles?

The hives "could be" an Id Reaction so until more is known it's a hard thing to diagnose.