myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hi! I had a fantastic holiday in Tobago in April, staying at Castara Retreats. One week after my return I started to be unwell. After several weeks the doctors said they thought it was a herpes virus but they were not totally convinced. The worst sypmtons were a rash over most of my body (but interestingly only the parts of me that were suntanned) and terribly painful inflamed swellings all over my lower legs. The leg swelling lasted a few weeks and then gradually became massive bruses. Whilst the legs were at their worst I couldn't walk on them. Friends have asked if I thought it could be some sort of tropical infection. Has anyone had (or heard of anyone having) anything similar? It may just have been a very bad sun induced herpes/shingles. Any comments?
Tara

Hi Tara,
I wondered if you could describe the rash a bit more. Did you have any blisters i.e. spots with fluid in them. How soon after arrival, and exposure to sunshine did the rash come on? How long did it take for the rash to completely settle? Did you get any spots/lesions on your face? Do you ever get prickly heat on holiday or in summer?
There is an entity called polymorphic light eruption which is very common in young females, that might be responsible for your problems. Did you by chance take any photographs of your rash?

Freida (Henry's wife)

Thanks for your reply, Freida. The spots began as kind of blister-like with fluid and then developed more into cold sore tpye-spots. The first 2 Drs I saw said they looked like chicken pox spots 'but not quite'. By the time I saw the 3rd Dr they were becoming more cold sore like. The rash came about 3 weeks after my return from Tobago but I was feeling unwell from 1 week after my return. The first sypmton (1 week after return) was extremely bad diarrhea which knocked me out for a week, then I had a very odd chest pain which felt a bit like a chest infection without the cough (hurt when I breathed deeply or swollowed). Then - I have some 20 year old scars on my lip and these blew up to be huge but never developed into anything. Then I have other scars on my knees from the same accident which haven't given me trouble in at least 18 years and they all swelled up and became very painful. Then the spots which took about a week to settle, and leg swellings which also took about a week to all come out. Apart from the initial swellings on my lip I had no spots/lesions on my face.
I never get prickly heat. I celebrated my 39th birthday whilst we were in Tobago so I don't know if I class as a young female any more! Polymorphic light eruption sounds interesting. What is it?
I wish I had taken pictures of the rash and swellings but didn't.
Thanks for your interest! My own doctor has been very unconcerned!
Tara

Dear Tara,

Don't be too harsh on your doctor - skin disease is a mystery to most!

Most of your description would fit with a viral illness of some sort. Your description doesn't sound right for herpes/shingles/chickenpox. PLE is a possibility, and yes, at 39 you are still young enough! However, it more commonly occurs from an earlier age. I'm not aware of any tropical diseases in Tobago/Trinidad which would give the symptoms you describe.

My advice would be if you ever get this rash again, ask to be referred to a dermatologist, and take photographs. Hopefully you won't have any further problems.


Best wishes.

Freida

Thanks Frieda! Lets hope it doesn't occur again!
Tara