Possible Chickenpox or Viral Illness in 9-Month-Old: Symptoms & Concerns

Question
My daughter is 9 months old and very healthy. Yesterday I noticed what I thought were a few bug bites on her shoulders. We had been outside so I didn't think anything of it.  All day she was abnormally clingy and had a fever in the evening of 101.9.  This morning she had more "bites" and by the afternoon they were all over her body. I called her pediatrician asking what the signs for chicken pox were.  They asked us to come in.  Her doctor said she has the flu and that the dots are more of a rash that the body produces as a result of fighting the virus. I don't get it. She scratches at them a lot and even though I believe him I feel like I wouldn't be able to recognize chicken pox if it did arrive.  Are rashes with flu normal? And is flu without vomiting and diarrhea normal? Thank you. What would be different if it were chicken pox?

Answer
Hi Josselyn,
Rashes secondry to viral illnesses are quite common in children. Flu does not charactaristically involve vomiting and diarrhea at all. It sounds like your daughter has a viral exanthum (viral rash) and it will fade as her fever and symptoms decline. Chicken pox will present with sudden high fever, vomiting and an outbreak of a blister-like rash. it will be different that what you now describe as your daughter's rash.