rash judgement

CASE 5:“RASH JUDGMENT”

Questions to be answered

1. How are rashes classified?2. What infectious conditions are to be entertained in

Michelle’s case?3. Are there non-infectious conditions that may present

with rashes?4. In view of the general presentation, what is the most

likely diagnosis of Michelle’s case?5. Discuss the possible complications of her condition6. Discuss the treatment of Michelle’s case7. Discuss the measure/s necessary to prevent infection

with the viral exanthems that present with maculopapular rash

“RASH JUDGMENT”

• Michelle is a 10-year old girl with fever for the last five days. Associated symptoms include brassy cough and coryza, watery diarrhea and decreased appetite. Two days later, she was noted to have “sore eyes” and irritability.

• The mother could not recall the child’s immunizations except that she was given the last vaccines at the health center at age 4 months

“RASH JUDGMENT”

• On examination, she looked tired and ill, and had a temperature of 390C; CR 88/min. and RR 26/min.. She had a rash that started 8 – 12 hrs. earlier behind the ears and on the face then spread down the body. The rash was erythematous with fine macules and papules. Conjunctivitis was prominent. On examination of the buccal mucosa, small 1-mm.white papules were seen opposite the 2nd molars.

“RASH JUDGMENT”

• 2 days later, the white spots disappeared and the palms and soles were involved in the erythematous rash which later became brownish. This was later followed by a fine branny desquamation first occurring in the face later involving the body.

Q1:How are rashes classified ?

(judged)

RASH JUDGMENT

• A exanthem is a skin eruption occurring as an integral part of an infectious disease. The corresponding changes in the mucous membranes is an enanthem

• Accurate diagnosis not always possible on preliminary examination- judgment should be deferred until rash develops

Morphologic types or Components of a rash

• Macule is a circumscribed discoloration of the skin. Often evolve into papules. Papules are small nodular elevations of the skin

• Vesicles are small blisters containing clear fluid. Pustules are small elevations of the skin containing pus

Maculopapular rash

Vesiculopustular rash

Morphologic types or Components of a rash

• Petechiae are small hemorrhages beneath the epidermis. Ecchymoses are larger areas of hemorrhage

Color Atlas of Infectious Diseases, Emond & Rowland

Other components

• Crust/scab – congealed exudate on the skin

• Wheal – localised effusion of fluid into the skin causing a raised, white or pinkish-white zone with a halo of erythema

• Erythema – a diffuse or localised red ness of the skin

Vital information necessary in the diagnosis of exanthematous

illnesses

Exposure Season Incubation period Age Previous

exanthem Relation of rash to

fever Adenopathy

Type of rash Distribution of

rash Progression of

rash Exanthems Other associated

symptoms or Prodrome

Laboratory testsFeigin and Cherry Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Basis for Rash Judgment:

1. Prodromal period

2. Rash

3. Presence of pathognomonic or other diagnostic signs

4. Laboratory diagnostic tests

Q2: What infectious conditions are to be entertained in Michelle’s

case?

Conditions that present with Maculopapular rash

1. Measles• Prodromal period:

– The rash is preceded by a 3 or 4 day period of fever, conjunctivitis, coryza and cough

• Rash:– reddish brown, appears on the

face first and progresses downward to involve the trunk and extremities in sequence

Measles

• Rash (cont.): The eruption fades by the 5th or 6th day with brownish staining first followed by branny desquamation. The hands and feet do not desquamate

Brownish discoloration

Measles

• Pathognomonic sign: Koplik’s spots– Detected on the mucosa of the

cheeks opposite the molars, where they resemble coarse grains of salt on the surface of the inflamed membrane.

• Histologically are small necrotic patches in basal layers of the mucosa with serum exudation and mononuclear cell infiltration

Measles course

Conditions that present with Maculopapular rash

2. Rubella (Postnatal)• Prodromal period:

– In children there are no prodromal period. The appearance of the rash and preceding lymphadenopathy may be the first obvious sign of disease.

– Adults and adolescents may have a variable period of malaise and low-grade fever before the rash appears

Rubella course

Rubella rash

Postnatal Rubella

• Rash: – Not distinctive; initially

discrete, delicate pink macules beginning on face and neck and progresses downward to the trunk & extremities more rapidly than measles. On the third day the face is usually clear

– Does not desquamate

Postnatal Rubella

• Forchheimer spots – red spots are often seen on the palate – Exceptionally profuse

in this patient

Rubella

• Diagnostic sign:– lymphadenopathy (particularly postauricular

and occipital) is a common manifestation, but it also occurs in other diseases

• Laboratory diagnosis:– positive throat culture for rubella virus and rise

in antibody level are helpful diagnostic aids

Congenital Rubella Syndrome

• “Blueberry muffin” rash: a purpuric rash may present at birth or develop within 48 hrs.

• May be accompanied by bleeding from the mucosal surface

Conditions that present with Maculopapular rash

3. Roseola infantum• Prodromal period:

– a 3 or 4 day period of high fever and irritability precedes the rash which appears as the temperature falls to normal

Roseola infantum (HHV 6)

• Rash:– typically discrete rose-red

maculopapules that frequently appear on the chest and trunk first and then spread to involve the face and extremities.

– The eruption usually disappears within 2 days. Occasionally within several hours

Roseola infantum

• Diagnostic sign: – The coincidental appearance of the rash with

defervescence in an infant is distinctive

• Laboratory diagnostic test: – none locally commercially available

Conditions that present with Maculopapular rash

4. Erythema infectiosum:

Rash: erupts in 3 stages1. Red, flushed cheeks with

circumoral pallor (“slapped check” appearance)

2. Maculopapular eruption over upper and lower extremities (the rash assumes a lacelike appearance as it fades)

Erythema infectiosum

Slapped-face appearance

Lacelike pattern of rash

Erythema infectiosum

• Rash (cont.)3. An evanescent stage characterized by subsidence of

the eruption followed by recurrence precipitated by a variety of skin irritants

• Diagnostic sign: – suggested by the slapped-face appearance in a well

child

• Laboratory diagnosis: – future serologic tests to confirm parvovirus B19

Conditions that present with Maculopapular rash

5. Infectious mononucleosis

• Rash – pinkish maculopapular, often mistaken for rubella– Tends to be patchy and

heavier on the limbs

Infectious mononucleosis

• Diagnostic signs:– a triad of membranous tonsillitis,

lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly suggests this

• Laboratory diagnostic test:– blood smear positive for abnormal

lymphocytes. – Monospot test and heterophil

agglutination (Paul-Bunnell) test are positive

Infectious mononucleosis

• Hoagland’s sign: lid edema

6. Enteroviral Infections

• Prodrome:– Echovirus 16 (Boston

exanthem) prodrome resemble exanthem subitum but fever lower

– Fever & constitutional symptoms in Echovirus 4, 6 & 9 may precede but usually coincide with rash appearance

• Rash:– May be maculopapular,

petechial and vesicular eruptions with Coxsackie A9, A16,A10, A5,B3 and B5

Cochsackievirus infection

ECHOvirus type 19 infection

7. Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome (Kawasaki disease)

• Prodrome:– A nonspecific febrile illness

with sore throat precedes the rash by 2 – 5 days

• Rash:– Generalized,

erythematous, maculopapular. The palms and soles are swollen and reddened, eventually peeling after several days or weeks.

Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome (Kawasaki disease)

• Rash (cont.)– Dryness with erythema

of the lips (red strawberry tongue), mouth and tongue accompanies bilateral conjunctival injection

Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome (Kawasaki disease)

• Conjunctivitis– Bilateral, bulbar,

generally nonpurulent

• Cervical lymphadenopathy– Usually unilateral– Not explained by other

known disease process

Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome (Kawasaki disease

• Periungual desquamation or

• Perianal desquamation may follow in the subacute phase

Diagnostic Criteria for Kawasaki Disease

• Fever lasting for at least 5 days• Presence of at least 4 of the ff. 5 signs:

– Bilateral bulbar conjunctival injection, generally nonpurulent– Changes in the mucosa of the oropharynx, including injected

pharynx, injected and/or dry fissured lips, strawberry tongue– Changes of the peripheral extremities, such as edema and/or

erythema of the hands or feet in the acute phase; or periungual desquamation in the subacute phase

– Rash, primarily truncal; polymorphous or nonvesicular– Cervical adenopathy, > 1.5 cm., usually unilateral

lymphadenopathy illness not explained by other known disease process

8. Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

• Prodrome:– None– Fever and irritability occur

at the time of onset of the rash

• Rash:– Generalized,

erythematous, scarlatiniform eruption with sandpaper-like texture

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

• Rash (cont)– The erythema is

accentuated in the skin folds.

– The skin is tender and within 1-2 days, bullae appear and the epidermis separate into large sheets, revealing a moist, red, shiny surface underneath (Nikolsky sign)

Ritter’s disease

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome variants

Lyell’s disease

+ Nikolsky sign

Lyell’s disease

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome variants

Newborns – Ritters disease or Newborns – Ritters disease or Pemphigus neonatorumPemphigus neonatorum

Older children and adults – Older children and adults – Lyell’s disease or Toxic Lyell’s disease or Toxic Epidermal NecrolysisEpidermal Necrolysis– TEN differentiated from SSS TEN differentiated from SSS

by intraepithelial splitting at by intraepithelial splitting at the dermoepidermal junctionthe dermoepidermal junction

– TEN usually drug-induced TEN usually drug-induced from phenytoin, from phenytoin, phenobarbital, phenobarbital, sulfonamides,sulfonamides,

penicillinpenicillin

Toxic epidermal Necrolysis

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome variants

• Diagnostic sign:– An associated staphylococcal infection e.g.

Impetigo or purulent conjunctivitis may be present

• Laboratory diagnostic tests:– Culture of skin positive for phage group II

9. Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome

• Prodrome:– High fever, headache

confusion, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea and shock may precede or may be associated with the rash

• Rash– There are no characteristic

features of the rash– Occurs most prominently in the

trunk & extremities– Associated with edema and

desquamation

Poor capillary refill in TSS

Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome

• Diagnostic signs:– The scarlatiniform eruption is associated with

high fever, toxicity and a shock-like state

• Laboratory tests:– Cultures of various mucosal surfaces or

purulent lesions should be positive for Staphylococcus aureus

10. Typhoid fever

• Rash:– Rose spot

• Typically appear towards the end of the 1st week

• Present in 50% of adults but less common in children

• Difficult to detect on dark skin• Districuted over abdomen, chest

and back but rarely seen in face, hands or feet

– Step-ladder temperature chart

Q3:Are there non-infectious

conditions that may presentwith rashes?

Noninfectious conditions

• Drug eruptions/toxic erythemas• Sunburn• Miliaria

– No prodromal periods– Sunburn rashes confined to the areas not protected

by clothing– Miliaria: fine punctiform lesions are chiefly confined to

the flexor areas. Rash not usually generalized and does not desquamate

Drug Eruptions…Others

Erythema multiforme

from

sulphonamide

Urticariacaused byPenicillin

Malar “butterfly Rash” of SystemicLupus erythematosus

Q4:

In view of the general presentation, what is the most likely diagnosis of

Michelle’s case?

Task 5:Discuss the possible

complications of her condition

Task 6:Discuss the treatment of

Michelle’s case

Task 7:Discuss the measure/s

necessary to prevent infection with the viral exanthems that present with maculopapular

rash

Task 8:Enumerate possible

Key Learningpoints in

Michelle’s case

CASE 5:“RASH

JUDGMENT”