Allergic reaction, or illness?

[JungleJim]

I'm itching like mad in certain areas of my body. All up my arms through to the soft skin of the arm near the armpit. Belly. Thighs up to soft skin in thighs near crotch.

On my upper arms its a red rash. lower arms its an itchniess that shows up as flesh coloured bumps after scratching. On the backs of my hands i have a couple of big "spots" that have broken and scabbed after scratching.

I'm not generally allergic to stuff, and the only thing that has changed in our house is a couple of plug-in air fresheners that have actually been switched off most of the week since i started itching. I've washed the cushions from the sofa in case the air freshener has settled onto the cushions.

I'm trying to figure out if i've had a reaction to something, or if i'm ill. Illness would be bad since my mrs is pregnant.

any ideas of things to check?

[K77 CTR]

Sounds like it could be an allergy, have you taken any piriton? If not, take regular piriton (not the one a day variety). If you generally feel well then even more likely an allergy. You can suddenly develop an allergy to things and also manufacturers change products, look for the words new and improved on things!

[trix-a-belle]

sounds like it could possibly be an allergy to your washing powder..

[BigAlinEmbra]

trix-a-belle said:

sounds like it could possibly be an allergy to your washing powder..

This would be my prime suspect.

[ShadownINja]

BigAlinEmbra said:

trix-a-belle said:

sounds like it could possibly be an allergy to your washing powder..

This would be my prime suspect.

Ditto. Was about to post that.

[JungleJim]

thanks for the ideas folks, i'll pick up some piriton tomorrow.

We been buying the same washing powder for ages, is it really possible that i'd suddenly become allergic to it?

[TedMaul]

Previos posts correct, get a bottle of Piriton from chemist and when it happens again, if the Piriton sorts it out, its a mild allergic reaction. If that is the case, you'd be best off doing the boring diary thing and write down everything you do, eat, drink and note when you have reactions to work out some sort of correlation. You could get referral from GP to allergy clinic but unless you have some idea, you could end up being a human pin cushion with no better idea. Best if you could narrow it down a bit.

Are you under any particular stress or worry, could it be stress related Psoriasis or excema or does the reaction go away within a couple of hours?

[Pothole]

JungleJim said:

thanks for the ideas folks, i'll pick up some piriton tomorrow.

We been buying the same washing powder for ages, is it really possible that i'd suddenly become allergic to it?

yes, but also possible they have changed the formula and not said anything, or has it suddenly become 'new and improved'?

[JungleJim]

I saw the nurse this morning. She says take piriton and go back to see the doctor tomorrow. She says she isn't sure whether or not its a viral rash hence having to see the doctor again tomorrow.

As for stress, well my wife is pregnant and I'm under pressure at work as I have a seriously failing piece of work!

[Pothole]

JungleJim said:

I saw the nurse this morning. She says take piriton and go back to see the doctor tomorrow. She says she isn't sure whether or not its a viral rash hence having to see the doctor again tomorrow.

As for stress, well my wife is pregnant and I'm under pressure at work as I have a seriously failing piece of work!

hard to do I know but if you can fix it then stop feeling pressure. Make sure whoever you are delivering to is fully aware of the issues and the actual date/time when it will be fixed.

If it's not fixable, be up front about that and relax.