Children's Health

Do you think the diaper rash may have been caused by abuse or neglect?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is diaper rash causing severe pain with urination?

Is diaper rash causing severe pain so your child does not want to urinate?

Are there areas of raw skin larger than across?

Is the diaper rash getting worse after 24 hours of home treatment?

Is the diaper rash not getting better after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your baby have white patches in the mouth and it is hard for him or her to swallow or eat?

Do you have white patches on the roof of your mouth?

Do you think a medicine may be causing a rash in the diaper area? Note: Stop giving the medicine to your child.Call the doctor who prescribed or recommended the medicine before giving the next dose to determine whether another medicine needs to be prescribed.If you think your child may be having a reaction to a nonprescription medicine or an herbal remedy, stop giving that medicine and call your doctor to talk about the problem.

Is there a fiery red rash, mainly in the skin creases, with well-defined borders and tiny red or pus-filled pimples outside the border for longer than 24 hours after using home treatment?

Is there rash in skin folds, such as the neck, underarms, or belly button, for longer than 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are there red streaks spreading from the rash?

Is there increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the rash?

Is the area around the rash tender to the touch?

Are there clear, fluid-filled blisters that, when broken open, leave large red, raw areas?

Is there pus in or drainage from the diaper rash area?

Do you know or think your child has a fever?

Has your child developed a rash and is fussy, agitated, or combative?

Is the rash getting worse after 24 hours of home treatment?

Is the rash not getting better after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is there a red, patchy rash in the diaper area with greasy, silvery, or yellow crusts, and is the rash also present on other parts of the body?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

Call your health professional today.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.