Brodie’s Skin
“As a parent and mom, I realized that I needed to follow my intuition”
It’s been over a year and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have some PTSD writing a blog about Brodie’s skin condition. Even just reliving the memories through photos and videos has humbled me once again.
When Brodie was five months old I noticed his diaper area was slightly red and swollen on 2/28/23. I decided to take him to the pediatrician and they promptly prescribed him Amoxicillin (antibiotic) as a preventative measure.
Over the next three days, the rash seemed to look the same until one afternoon when it became increasingly red, swollen, and raw. The rash had also spread to his arms, legs, and trunk. When I called the pediatrician, there were no appointments at his regular office so I took him to Urgent Care the same day. They discontinued the Amoxicillin and prescribed Cefnidir (antibiotic) oral suspension 2 ml 2 x a day and topical Clotrimazole (antifungal) cream.
The next day Friday, 3/3 there was a last-minute cancellation at the pediatrician’s office so we went for a follow-up. The nurse practitioner said to discontinue all oral antibiotics and to apply Muciprocin (topical antibiotic) only.
By Sunday, 3/5 his diaper area was now completely inflamed, and his entire body was covered in scaly red patches. The skin on his back was starting to fall off and we decided to take him to Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover, NH. The ER doctor determined he had four different types of rashes: Impetigo, a fungal infection, and two different rashes caused by the antibiotics. When discharged, his treatment included Muciprocin, Clotrimazole, and Hydrocortisone (corticosteroid).
We continued this regimen until Tuesday, 3/7 when we finally got an appointment with his pediatrician. Our doctor had a general idea of what Brodie’s rashes could be but urged us to see a dermatologist. He submitted an emergency referral to Boston Children’s Hospital and Dartmouth Hitchcock. We continued the same treatment from the emergency room and then added Fluocinolone Acetonide Topical Oil 0.01% (Topical Steroid - Body Oil).
By Thursday, 3/9 we had seen no real improvement and took him to the Emergency Department at Dartmouth Hitchcock. We decided to seek treatment in New Hampshire before going out of state to Boston because of our health insurance. We left that morning and arrived at the ED around noon. We waited the entire day and finally met with the pediatric dermatology team that night. After the examination, they suspected he may have Scalded Skin Syndrome caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. In the meantime, he was prescribed 4.5 ml of Cefalexin 2 x daily, Hydrocortisone for his face and scalp, and Triamicinolone for his back, legs, arms, and chest. He was due back at Dartmouth for a follow-up with the pediatric dermatologist four days later. We continued this treatment for the next three days. We started to see initial improvement but were discouraged when his diaper area became the same scarlet color yet again. Not to mention, Brodie had become inconsolable, fussy, and irritable from the discomfort.
Alec and I made the decision I would drive to Lebanon with Brodie for his appointment while he stayed home with Lila. I booked a hotel for Monday night hoping I could return immediately after his visit on Tuesday morning. Early the next day, Brodie and I woke up in Lebanon and headed to the dermatology office as snowflakes started to gently cover the ground. At the appointment, the lab results from the previous week showed Staphylococcus bacteria was not present in his system and they decided to re-swab him in fear of user error. The doctor warned us his condition may be Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a contagious and serious condition that could be difficult to treat and would require hospitalization. I was floored by his potential diagnosis but tried to remain positive. By the time we returned to our car, snow had covered the ground and there was an impending snowstorm.
Brodie and I picked up his new prescriptions and I reluctantly booked another night at the hotel. I was desperate to get home but knew staying there would be our safest option. In the morning, about 8 inches of snow blanketed the ground. On our way home Brodie was so uncomfortable he could barely sit in his carseat. He screamed the entire 2.5 hours home. I bawled the entire time. I called Alec and we decided I would come home, repack my bags, and head straight to Boston Children’s Hospital emergency room.
Once we arrived, we were referred to the pediatric dermatology team and after an initial examination, they confirmed it was not MRSA and was a severe case of Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema). Upon discharge, we were to discontinue all antibiotics and apply stronger corticosteroids. Brodie was seen a few days later and received weekly check-ins going forward. To get his skin under control we followed this plan for a few weeks:
Bleach baths (1 tsp of Clorox bleach and one gallon of water) 2-3 times a week
Wet pj’s for the first 3-4 days
I would do this during his naps and at bedtime
After getting out of the bath I would put the steroids on his body, then put Vaseline all over him, and then a diaper
I would submerge a pair of footie pj’s in water, wring them out, and then put them on his body followed by a pair of dry pj’s on top.
Triamcinolone 0.025% ointment from the neck down
Hydrocortisone 2.5% cream on the face
I had to cut out dairy and soy since I was breastfeeding
We had to change diaper brands, apply Vaseline with each change, avoid using wet wipes for pees, and only use wet cloths for poops
Takeaways
This long-winded narrative has only reminded me that as adults we are our children’s advocates. At the end of the day, doctors are humans and I have the utmost respect for all they do and their profession. I understand people make mistakes and it is not a perfect science. However, I think as a parent and mom I realized that I needed to follow my intuition. If I had that nagging feeling I kept digging for answers and was tirelessly persistent so I could diminish the pain my son was enduring. Reflecting, here are some tips from my journey:
I kept detailed phone records of times, locations, and doctors I spoke to
If I didn’t hear back within a certain time frame, I would just keep calling before the office closed at the end of the day
I created a PowerPoint presentation with dates, pictures, and descriptions of his condition. I would bring this 20-page document each time I went and made extra copies so I could give the most accurate account of what was happening
I talked with our health insurance company throughout the process so I could prepare for potential costs
If your child is experiencing a medical hardship don’t lose hope, be faithful, and be relentless in your search for answers. Best of luck!
