Baby's rash turned out to be cancer-like illness

A mum was left "horrified" after discovering a painful skin condition that often stopped her picking up her baby was a rare cancer-type condition.

Sonny was born with red spots all over his body in January 2025, but was diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV) and psoriasis and discharged from King's Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire.

However, 13-month-old Sonny was later diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a cancer-like condition which leads to a type of white blood cell growing excessively. About 50 children in the UK are affected each year.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs King's Mill, said it wanted to explore the concerns of Sonny's mum, Emma.

"I knew something wasn't right," said Emma, of Mansfield. "I thought it would be some kind of immune system thing but I never expected to hear the word cancer."

LCH, which is most common in boys, involves histiocytes, a type of white blood cell, growing excessively.

In Sonny's case, this affected his skin, ears and lymph nodes.

Emma said the spots that Sonny was born with continued to get worse.

In April 2025, at four months old, he began developing persistent ear infections, cradle cap and open sores under his neck, armpits and groin.

"Everything just kept getting worse and worse until I hit breaking point," she said.

"I cried on the doctor and said he needs to see an ENT (Ear nose and throat specialist) because there's something not right."

The 31-year-old said Sonny was referred to the ENT at King's Mill, who sent him straight to a dermatologist.

"We saw the dermatologist twice and he was treating him for psoriasis," she added.

"When I told him the treatment wasn't working he just suggested I shave all of Sonny's gorgeous dark hair off to make sure I applied the cream properly, even though I was."

Emma sought a second opinion and was referred to the dermatology department at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham.

She said Sonny, who was 10 months old, was taken straight to oncology at the QMC, where he was tested and diagnosed with LCH.

Sonny began 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy which Emma said cleared up the LCH in his lymph nodes.

She said he is now undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatment once every three weeks to tackle the condition on his skin and in his ears.

"He's such a bundle of joy and we're starting to get the old Sonny back," Emma said.

"As long as everything stays as it is he should be ringing the bell at the end of October".

Emma said she wants Sonny's story to encourage other parents to "trust their instincts".

"Nobody should have to fight doctors but unfortunately you have to sometimes.

"If doctors had listened to us to start with, we wouldn't have had 10 months of absolute hell."

A spokesperson for Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: "We are sorry to hear about [Emma's] concerns regarding her son's experience.

"We are committed to continually improving the quality and safety of the care we provide and welcome every opportunity to learn."

Emma is now organising an Easter egg collection for the children's cancer ward at the QMC.

"I can't sit here and feel sorry for myself when all of these children have so much courage and they're so strong.

"I just wanted to give something back because the cancer ward is the worst place in the world for any parent, but it is the best place as well," Emma said.

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