Exanthem
| Exanthem | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Family medicine  |
An exanthem (from Greek "exanthema", a breaking out[1]) is a widespread rash usually occurring in children. Exanthems can be caused by toxins or drugs, microorganisms, or can result from autoimmune disease.
Types
Historically, six "classical" infectious childhood exanthems have been recognized. Numbers were provided in 1905.[2]
They include:
- measles (rubeola) ("first disease")
- scarlet fever ("second disease"). Measles and scarlet fever were distinguished in the 17th century.[3]
- rubella ("third disease"). Rubella was identified in 1881.[3]
- Fourth disease, a condition whose existence is not widely accepted today, was described in 1900.[3]
- erythema infectiosum ("fifth disease"). It was identified as a distinct condition in 1896.[4]
- roseola infantum ("sixth disease")
Scarlet fever is the only rash on this list caused by a bacterium; the others are caused by viruses. Many common viruses such as rhinovirus (the common cold) can also produce an exanthem.
Other exanthematic diseases exist that are not part of the classic list, either because they have only recently been discovered (e.g. unilateral laterothoracic exanthem of childhood) or because they have been found to represent not a single disease, but a general manifestations of various possible viral infections (once called Duke's disease); obviously there are other also other common paediatric infections that do not cause exanthems (e.g. mumps).
Prevention
Vaccinations now exist against measles, rubella and chickenpox.[5]
References
- ^ "Roseola Glossary of Terms with Definitions on MedicineNet.com".
- ^ "fifth disease" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ a b c Weisse ME (2001). "The fourth disease, 1900-2000". Lancet. 357 (9252): 299–301. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03623-0. PMID 11214144.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "THE DOCTOR'S WORLD - New York Times".
- ^ Michael A. Pfaller; Murray, Patrick R.; Rosenthal, Ken S. (2005). Medical Microbiology (Medical Microbiology). Mosby Elsevier. p. 700. ISBN 0-323-03303-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
- Overview at About.com
- Definition at MedTerms
- Differential diagnosis
- Dermatology Quiz Includes photo, diagnosis, and treatment of unilateral laterothoracic exanthem (ULE).
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