Tonite I noticed I seem to be getting this small, raised red dots on my skin. So far only on my arms and a few places on chest / back. THey itch a bit. Also, my skin seems drier than normal.
Wondering if this is a reaction to either Bactrim or Rifabutin? I think I may have noticed a few dots a few days ago (before Rifabutin), but am not sure. Wouldn't they have shown up sooner if it was from the Bactrim?
I think I"m going to stop taking them until I hear from my llmd.
[ 11-23-2010, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: bcb1200 ]
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
I found this on line> BACTRIM - I was prescribed Bactrim generic for a bladder infection and today, my 7th day taking it, I woke up with a red rash over my face and entire body. I have red patches and dots everywhere and my face looks terribly sunburned. I'm scared to shower or use any lotions or soaps on my body since it feels like it will easily leave scars. I don't itch, but everyone says I look like I'm in pain. I now wonder if my insomnia problems this week have anything to do with this medication? I really hope it goes away by tomorrow.
Rifabutin was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. Discontinuation due to a side effect was reported in 16% of patients taking rifabutin compared to 8% of patients taking placebo. Discontinuation of rifabutin was mainly due to rash (4%), gastrointestinal intolerance (3%), and neutropenia (2%).
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
My daughter had small, red, raised spots on her feet and legs, kind of like chicken pox, when she was on Bactrim.
Her LLMD had us stop the Bactrim for a week to see if it was a drug reaction. When the week was up, the rash was still there but was healing. I sent her LLMD a picture of the rash and she said it didn't look like a drug reaction and it was probably part of the herx.
We still haven't started it back up.
I think it's a good idea to stop it until you speak to your LLMD. My daughter had been on the Bactrim for 6 or 7 weeks when this happened.
Posted by deerose (Member # 27484) on :
I have what you describe from bartonella symptoms...sometime more than other times and they move around.
I am not on those meds.
Posted by Wolfed Out (Member # 23727) on :
Guys, I don't want to scare anyone, but please be aware of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Drugs like Bactrim and Septra can cause this.
Please google "Stevens-Johnson Syndrome" and look at pictures to compare any rashes you develop while using these antibiotics.
Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
I got a few of those myself last week. Itch a bit like fire ants, though not so bad. Just on the feet & lower legs. Have no idea what it's from. I haven't added anything new. Hmmmm...just another mystery of the body's reaction to things.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
THey are better this am, but still there.
I do worry about Steven's Johnson syndrome. But figure there would be more sx with it.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Posted by Wolfed Out (Member # 23727) on :
Hey, I get the SAME exact thing. Actually, it was a little worse when I started and subsided several months down the road.
I think it's from the infection, not the medicine.
I stopped Bactrim a couple weeks ago, and noticed my symptoms creeping up on me. I took it again this morning, and had an itchy bump on the left side of my stomach.
I was concerned about it at first, but I never had more than a few at a time, and I've been on Bactrim since April, minus a couple weeks.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
They don't seem to be getting any worse. I think if it was Steven's Johnson Syndrome it would have spread.
If it goes above my neck, I'm stopping.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
RASH AND LYMPHADENITIS: Erythematous papules (red splotches or slightly raised red spots) may develop. Such papules occasionally occur on the lower limbs but are more common on the upper limbs, the head, and neck. The papules may appear on the skin or mucous membranes. Bartonella may also cause subcutaneous nodules, with some bone involvement possible. The nodules may show some hyperpigmentation, be tender, fester, and/or be enlarged or swollen, but not always.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I think this is safe to say it is Bart.
Posted by Wolfed Out (Member # 23727) on :
bcb,
I'm not sure if you were responding my to my reply, but I wasn't implying that it was Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Just saying I've had the same thing pop up through my treatment with Bactrim.
I also noticed an increase when I took a high-dose of Artemisinin.
At this point, I believe it's more likely related to Babesia. I've treated Bartonella well for over 6 months, and I still occasionally get more of these spots.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
up...and update. So...I still have the dots, but the seem better. I'm still on all meds.
It's not Steven's Johnson Syndrome as it would have gotten much worse by now (plus I have no other symptoms.)
I think they are papules from Bart.
Is this a GOOD sign that my current treatment protocol has brought them out?
Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
I've got a new batch on my right leg, behind the knee. Itchy little boogers. I'm off meds now, so makes me wonder.
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
Your picture looks like my daughter's rash, too.
We were treating for bart with Bactrim and Biaxin when she got it. Now, she is off the Bactrim at least until we talk to her LLMD.
I wish I knew if it was good or bad that treatment brought it out.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Isn't the SJ syndrome in and around the mouth?
Small red spots that appear to be tiny blood blisters are common with bartonella infections so this could be a herx. It could be a reaction too. But I would think that they would be itchy if it is an allergy. Best check with your doctor.
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
I'm looking for my pics but it is 100% the exact same red itchy dots that I get here and there. I am not on the same meds as you are on.
So I believe it's bart saying "help me help me".
Or we are drinking the same Kool-Aid.
Posted by Beachinit (Member # 21040) on :
I would get skin itch about every 8-11 consecutive days on bactrim ds and would skip one or two doses when this happened. Eventually I was able to take this med every day for months at a time without the itch happening.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
This is getting much better. Still on all meds listed below. Suspect it is bart.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
I had a rash exactly like that! Wow! My pics never turned out that well though.
I had been on Rifampin, Zith, Bactrim for 3 months and had just started Mepron, Zith, Bactrim.
The rash started on my chest and shoulders and slowly moved down my entire body. It was slightly itchy for the first or second day only.
Because I had been on Bactrim, I knew it wasn't from that.
My gut feeling was Bart rash. I felt that attacking the Babesia was helping me reach the next level in Bartonella treatment as well.
In fact, shortly after the rash (less than a month later) my foot pain that I'd had for 1 1/2 years was gone!
It had been foot pain, heel pain, 6 months of plantar fasciitis where I could hardly walk, and all levels in between.
Whenever I'd take Rifampin & Zith, it would help so much that I'd only have pain for 20 minutes in the morning and sometimes again in the evening but it would never actually go away.
Like I said, when I started treating Bart & Babs at the same time, great things started happening!
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
Yep, bcb...I think we have the same red bumps. I've got them again. This time on my back and shoulders. And one on my knee????
I really think it's the bart. But am going to edcuate myself about the steven syndrome to be aware.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
So..my "dots" re nearly gone. My sister is a Physicians Assistant and says that it can sometimes happen with Bactrim. Bactrim is one of many abx that MD's use to treat acne. And usually when starting them you can "stir up" some bacteria deep within your tissue.
I still think it was bart...but because of the new Abx. So far so good. Fatigued a bit today.
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Yesssss yes yes yes.
My bart flares have been worse latey (I'm getting shin pain and foot pain, two things I rarely get) and I've gotten one of these on my chest and I get them on my arms; tonight one popped up on my hand! Thanks for making this post, I was so confused as to why these little semi-itchy red bumps were popping up all over me.
My babesia status is undetermined right now, but because my bart symptosm are acting up, I tend to relate it to that.
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
I got these along with some other Bart symptoms....my arms itch like crazy....
Posted by Kramberry (Member # 34032) on :
I recently have that exactly on the picture above when i started bactrim ds, is this the drug side effect or bart?
I was alarmed when i woke up this morning full of these rashes i immediatly stopped taking my meds!
Posted by Nancy2 (Member # 95) on :
Definitely Bart!
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Kramberry...ditto for me. This is my original post from a year ago. I was on Bactrim when these came out...and 3 weeks in I broke out in hives. Stopped Bactrim and all went away.
