Can a viral rash be itchy?

[acupuncturemomma]

I always thought of viral rashes as being red, maybe bumpy, but NOT itchy. What do you think? I'm asking because DD's friend (who we have a playdate with tomorrow) was taken to the ped with a rash yesterday--an itchy rash. Ped couldn't diagnose it with any certainty, but thought it was most likely viral rash. Although the little girl was given some "medicine."

We have been sick so much this winter; I want to avoid the playdate if the friend might be contagious!

[acupuncturemomma]

I just realized what a silly question this is, since chicken pox, for example, is very itchy!

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of the kind of rash that often accompanies a mild virus in infants.

[balancedmama]

It seems like to me that either way, they are probably contagious. I would skip it.