RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenRash
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- Arrange medical or pharmacist advice if the cause is unclear, the rash is not improving, keeps returning, or interferes with daily life.
- Seek urgent advice today if it spreads quickly, is painful, hot, swollen or blistering, or comes with fever or feeling unwell.
- Seek prompt advice for a new rash after starting a medicine. Use the emergency advice below for blistering, peeling, mouth sores or breathing problems.
- A child with a rash, poor feeding, unusual behaviour or concerning fever needs urgent advice; trust your judgement if they seem unwell.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- A rash that does not fade when pressed with a clear glass, particularly with illness or fever.
- Sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing.
- Blistering or peeling skin with sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals.
- A rash with a stiff neck, severe headache, confusion or difficulty waking.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
Sources
- NHS - Rashhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/rashes-babies-and-children/
- NHS - Meningitishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/
- NHS - Fever in childrenhttps://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/fever-in-children/
- NHS - Sepsishttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/
- NHS - When to use NHS 111https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/