Erythema Multiforme (minor) - What?

This is what Tanner looked like on Sunday after having the doctor tell us that this was an allergic reaction to the Augmentin antibiotic he was on for an ear infection. These spots were all over his body. Looks pretty bad doesn't it?

Monday morning, I walked into Tanner's room to get him up for the day. I figured that since he had been off the antibiotic now for 24 hours that the red welts would have cleared up just a little bit. How wrong I was to think that!!! When I walked into his room, Tanner's face was all swollen, the red welts looked 100 times worse than the day before. They had spread over about 70% of his body. I freaked out. I immediately called the pediatrician, and of course, no one answered because it was before they opened. I then called my mother-in-law and asked her to come with me to the children's hospital in Wilmington (she goes there regularly for appointments for her younger boys).

This what Tanner looked like on Monday. The ER doctors at the children's hospital told us that the rash is called Erythema Multiforme. It's a rash that's caused by either an underlying virus or from an allergic reaction to antibiotics. They weren't 100% sure because he had a virus, as well as taking antibiotics, so they said from now on that he was not to be prescribed Amoxicillan or Augmentin because he was "allergic" to both of those. The rash takes on a "bulls eye" form, being that the welts are red around the outside with a pale center - just like the department store Target's logo. The welts migrate around his body so the appearance of the welts changes many times throughout the day. It's going to take 2-4 weeks clear up they said, but in the mean time, it will look a whole lot worse before it will start to look better. However, it's not a harmful thing, other people can't get it so he's not on any medication for it. It's just uncomfortable being that it itches or it burns. We give him children's Benadryl for discomfort.

My little boy looks terrible!! He looks like he has some awful disease. The doctor's say that it's worse for the parents than it is for the child. That's comforting a little bit. Thankfully Tanner is acting himself. He's into everything today and he won't take his nap this afternoon because he's jabbering and playing in his crib. I'm ready to change pediatricians. I haven't been too thrilled with my current pediatrician and how they've handled all of this. I haven't decided yet, but I will be looking into another pediatrician's office just to check them out. At least now I can sleep a little easier knowing that my son isn't in any kind of immediate danger from being sick for over 10 days and not seeming to be getting better. I love him so much and it kills me to see his body all distorted. I'm ready for him to be back to normal again!!