Case Description

5 year-old son with a known (documented) history of: 1) severe eczema as a baby; 2) severe peanut allergy; 3) sensitive skin, recovering from a cold becomes more irritable, vomitting after every meal

Jan.14: Regular life-long paediatrician is away from office but new substitute paediatrician filling in at her office. My wife takes our son in for emergency appointment and is summarily rushed out with a prescription for Amoxicillin to treat an ear infection.

Skin rash appears after almost a week of treatment, progressively getting worse, covering entire body and face with blotchy red marks. He begins scratching, gets irritable, doesn\'t sleep, misses school.

Jan.22: My wife rushes him to regular paediatrician who determines son has developed a viral infection which must run it\'s course. She prescribes children\'s Benadryl for allergies/skin rash and baths with baking soda. Tells wife that ear infection is almost gone and to stop Amoxicillin. Distraught wife is assured \"viral infection\" which caused rash should go away in 3-4 days.

Jan. 23: Rash is full-on, red blotches covering entire body. Itch is kept under control with the Benadryl, boy is drowsy. Doctor\'s office is closed.....We call 1) Telehealth Ontario, 2) Pharmacist, and search for on-line info. Determine root of problem stems from Amoxicillan use......he must endure this problem for up to one more week.

Given child\'s past medical history, we are upset that Amoxicillin was prescribed. Regular paediatrician treated previous ear infections successfully using different medication. Why was Amoxicillin prescribed this time by the substitute paediatrician. Did she even check his charts to see past medical history?

I took photos today of my son documenting the disturbing rash. Need to consult a lawyer on options.