Gen Z Wakes Up Covered in Red Spots, Fever—What He Does Next Stuns People

A 23-year-old has turned to the internet for advice after waking up with a rash and not knowing the cause of it.

The Reddit post, titled “There are strange red spots all over my body,” includes a photo of his arm with spots all over it.

User u/InvisibleRando told Newsweek: “When I woke up, my entire body was covered. I don’t know what they are. I tried dragging my half-dead body to the clinic, but it was already cutoff time at 2 p.m., so I didn’t bother going to a doctor anymore.”

Instead, he asked the internet, and the May 20 post has received more than 24,000 upvotes and over 5,200 comments.

The caption notes: “But they’re not itchy or painful at all. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been feeling sick and weak for two days.”

Newsweek reached out to general practitioner Dr. Nikki Kanani, based in London, to discuss what the rash could be.

She said: “When we’re feeling run down, our immune systems are often a little weaker, and that can make us more prone to things like rashes.

“Stress, tiredness, or recovering from illness can all trigger skin flare-ups, whether it’s eczema, hives, or a viral rash.”

Kanani, the chief strategy and innovation officer at Aneira Health, a women’s health-care company, said there are possible causes, from a mild viral infection to an allergic reaction.

“Or it could be the body’s way of showing that it’s under stress. Often, it’s not serious, but it’s a sign your body needs a bit of rest and care,” Kanani said.

She added that a rash becomes a cause for concern when it is painful, spreading quickly, or comes with a fever or swelling.

Kanani said: “If you feel unwell generally, it’s important to get medical advice. And if it keeps coming back or doesn’t settle in a few days, it’s worth getting it checked out.”

Thousands of users have weighed in with their own diagnoses—some suggesting possibilities far more alarming than a simple viral infection.

One user said: “Not a doctor but a nurse. Rashes can represent a lot of things. Leukemia is typically bruising and petechiae, or tiny small broken blood vessels. This could be a medication reaction, viral, etc. If it continues I would definitely go see a doctor, especially if you’re feeling sick. Some basic labs could be all you need.”

Another asked: “Have you done the glass test on it? Roll a [drinking] glass over the rash. If it doesn’t fade under the glass, you need to be seen asap as [it] can be meningitis or something equally nasty.”

“Measles, Syphilis, Hand, Mouth and Foot, Viral Rash, Leukemia—it could be any range of things. Go see a doctor. Strangers can’t diagnose you off a picture,” suggested a third user.

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