Korean J Pediatr.  2007 Feb;50(2):132-137. 10.3345/kjp.2007.50.2.132.

Fever and rash

• Kang JH

• KMID: 2278715
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2007.50.2.132

Abstract

Patients with febrile illness and skin rashes need full and immediate attention. In general, these diseases show mild manifestations and good prognosis. However, causalities of some diseases with fever and rash may be life threatening or trivial. So, the differential diagnosis for those patients is extensive. A through history, a careful physical examination and close observation of clinical progress are very helpful and essential to confirming the diagnosis. Histories of recent travel, drug or specific food ingestion, exposure to human or an animal source of infection may be useful to discover the cause. Although laboratory tests can be useful in making the diagnosis, laboratory results usually are not available immediately. Knowledge and experiences of such diseases may be helpful to reduce the differential diagnosis to a few major possibilities. Rashes can be categorized as petechial, maculopapular, vesicular, urticarial and erythematous. Potential causes include infectious pathogens such as virus, bacteria, rickettsiae, spirohetes, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases and heamto-oncologic diseases. Because the severity of these diseases can vary mild to life threatening, physicians must perform prompt management decisions regarding empirical therapies. In this article, the differential etiological diagnosis of each type rash is reviewed and discussed, and with emphasis on intensive care of life threatening febrile diseases with rashes that are seen in our country.

Keyword

Fever; Rash; Differential diagnosis; Intensive care

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bacteria
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Connective Tissue Diseases
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Eating
Exanthema*
Fever*
Humans
Critical Care
Physical Examination
Prognosis
Rickettsia