Rashes in children: role of children's nurses in assessment and management

A rash in a child can cause significant anxiety to the parents but rarely indicates serious illness. When children's nurses come across children presenting with a rash, they need the skills and confidence to distinguish between those who likely have a serious condition that warrants urgent escalation, those who likely have a clinically significant condition where appropriate interventions are important, and those who likely have a benign condition that will resolve by itself. Nurses also need to be able to use professional terminology in their descriptions of rashes and to conduct accurate skin assessments across skin tones. By combining clinical vigilance, compassionate communication, clear explanations and effective safety-netting, nurses can manage the care of children presenting with a rash confidently and reassure the children's parents.