Korean J Dermatol.  2022 Feb;60(2):99-105.

Approach to Hospitalized Patients with Fever and Skin Eruption: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Features

• Lee SK
• Kim HY
• Lee JH
• Kim MS
• Lee UH

Abstract

Background
Fever and skin eruption are common manifestations in patients; however, assessing them can be challenging because of the wide range of differential diagnosis.
Objective
We aimed to obtain tips that could assist in differential diagnoses in patients with fever and skin eruption through the analysis of clinical features.
Methods
Medical records of hospitalized patients who had fever and skin eruption were examined from January 2010 to December 2019.
Results
The patients of the adverse drug reaction group were older (p=0.024), and they had underlying diseases (p＜0.001), whole body skin eruption (p=0.018), elevated alanine aminotransferase (p=0.027). The autoimmune disease group was associated with longer total fever and skin eruption duration (p=0.049, 0.037), leukocytosis (p=0.015), and neutrophilia (p=0.006). Infectious erythema group was associated with targetoid lesions (p=0.003).
Conclusion
Clinicians should examine patients with fever and skin eruption, considering that there may be various causes. This can be assisted by delicate skin exam and laboratory tests.

Keyword

Differential diagnosis; Drug eruptions; Exanthema; Fever