Rash following PD catheter placement

[MissRene12]

Hi guys.  My poor hon had his catheter surgery a week ago, and three days later he broke out into a huge red rash.  It covers most of his upper body.  We (and the clinic nurse) suspected an allergy to the tape, and it quieted down a bit after a new dressing and change to different tape three days ago.  Last night, it seemed to flare up again. Has anyone experienced anything similar? If so, what caused the issue? We have a call in to the clinic again for follow up, bu twanted to know if there is anything we can do to reduce the itchiness at home . He's been taking Benedryl which seems to help a little bit, but not enough.  :-/

[Joe]

I didn't have any kind of rash with my catheter. Hope you find a solution soon!

[Annig83]

I have this problem too, all the time!  You can switch to paper tape, but I still sometimes get the rash.  My nurse has me keep the site open for an hour or so without anything on it to let the skin rest.  (I've had the catheter in for over a year now, so with him just getting the cath. in I would wait a couple weeks to make sure he doesn't get an infection at the site).  You can use hydrocortizone anti-itch cream around the site, just don't get the cream in the cath. site, or on the catheter itself as it may have the possibility of eating the cath. material.  Cortizone 10 cream really works for me.  Also, is he allowed to bathe yet?  Or just sponge bathing still?  If he is bathing, make sure you use a non-scented soap...Dove makes a sensitive skin formula, or even just Dial anti-bacterial soap works well too.
I find that if I take an allergy pill (non-drowsy) throughout the day I don't itch as bad at night.  Unfortunately, if it is the tape causing the issues, there's not much you can do...except---> they do make a belt he can wear that holds the catheter in place without the use of tape

here's what a belt looks like  http://www.fstubbs.com/pdbelt/pd_belt.htm

Good luck, hope he stops itching!!