I’m feeling ranty today. I just can’t believe that doctors seem to know so little about childhood illnesses.

About two weeks ago, a little pimply rash appeared on Sprogzilla’s tummy. We’d just been to baby massage and I assumed the grapeseed oil may have irritated him a little. Almost a week later, we decided to get him seen by the doctor as it hadn’t gone away, in fact it had spread upwards slightly. Sprogdaddy was convinced it was eczema.

Now I have to say we have really lovely doctors at our surgery, I have no complaints about their bedside manner or their willingness to help. In this instance, the very cheerful doctor assured us that there was nothing untoward going on and it was likely a very mild viral infection which would resolve of its own accord after a week or two. I was slightly concerned it may have been chickenpox, but this was immediately ruled out, along with the eczema possibility. We were told not to apply anything on it and let it run its course.

Cue one week later and not only was the rash still there, it had continued to worsen. Now my poor little man has it all over his back and neck and even at the top of his limbs. Back to the surgery we went, this time to see another (very friendly) doctor. Still no signs of illness were found, but this doctor is certain he has eczema! Away we went with prescriptions for bath oil, moisturiser and the dreaded steroid cream. None of which we will use of course, being wacky, hippy types with our own natural medicine cabinet lol.

I do, as it happens, have a nice homeopathic cream touted as a fantastic steroid alternative which I started using on the worst areas last night. I’m also trying a gentle, natural moisturiser on the other areas. I’ll have to give it a few days to see if these methods are working, fingers crossed they’ll do the trick, otherwise I’ll be off to see the homeopath.

I’m just really annoyed that we could have started working on the problem a week ago instead of yesterday if the first doctor had got it right. We had a similar situation with the colic, initially the GP decided it was reflux and had us giving Sprogzilla gaviscon which of course made no difference (and was a pain to administer to a breastfed baby). This same diagnosis was then reiterated by a paediatrician at the hospital who wanted him on domperidone and ranitidine – I was beginning to feel like Sprogzilla was a guinea pig. Luckily we didn’t take that route and probiotics eventually helped ease his discomfort.

Talking of colic, health professionals seem to be more in the dark about this condition than anything. Considering how common colic is, I am stunned that no one has figured out what it actually is yet.

Is it just me that feels like infant illnesses are commonly misdiagnosed and practitioners often have to guess what’s wrong and hope for the best?