rash_generalised
Table of Contents
acute generalized non-vesicular non-purpuric rashes covering most parts of the body
see also:
DDx
- hypersensitivity reactions
- drug eruption
- morbilliform drug reaction
- drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome)):
- aromatic anticonvulsants and other antiepileptics, sulphonamides, allopurinol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and certain antibiotics
-
- m/p rash similar to morbilliform drug reaction
- photosensitivity rash
- central face malar or “butterfly” violaceous erythema with a sharp cutoff at lateral margins
- mucosal lesions
- bullous rash like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- psoriasis-like rash
- overlapping annular lesions
- chronic form is discoid SLE - indurated hyperpigmented plaques mainly to head and neck
- contact dermatitis
- Grover disease - common, mainly truncal and upper arms, most often affects Caucasian men over 50 years of age with sundamaged skin
- viral exanthems
- EBV / glandular fever / infectious mononucleosis especially if amoxicillin has been taken
- hand foot and mouth - often has buttock involvement in young children
- Fifth disease (i.e., erythema infectiosum)
- roseola (i.e., exanthem subitum, sixth disease)
- rubella
- rubeola
- non-specific viral exanthems
- bacterial toxin related rashes:
- scarlet fever
- Kawasaki disease
- meningococcaemia
- toxic shock syndrome
- bacterial skin infections
- folliculitis
- insects
- multiple insect bites including bed bugs
- rickettsial pox
- lyme disease
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) rash
- subacute:
- Pityriasis rosea
- tinea corporis
- exacerbations of chronic conditions
- psoriasis esp. guttate psoriasis
acute rash with mucosal involvement
- hand foot and mouth (mucosal involvement mainly in young children)
- erythema multiforme major type
- mycoplasma (MIRM)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) - early phase is non-blistering
those involving palms
- urticaria
- erythema multiforme
- drug eruption
- Kawasaki disease
- Toxic shock syndrome
- HIV seroconversion
- gonococcal
- secondary syphilis
- rubella
- scabies (in infants)
- Tinea corporis
- psoriasis
asymmetric generalised rashes
- urticaria
- meningococcal
- sepsis
- scabies
symmetric generalised rashes starting from head downwards
- measles (starts behind ears or on forehead at hairline)
- fifth disease (starts as slapped cheeks)
- rubella - facial rash usually clears as it spreads to other parts of the body
- scarlet fever - rash usually starts below the ears, neck, chest, armpits and groin before spreading to the rest of the body over 24 hours.
symmetric generalised rashes starting from trunk downwards
- morbilliform drug eruption
- usually appears 1–2 weeks after starting the drug, but it may occur up to 1 week after stopping it
- usually first appears on the trunk and then spreads to the limbs and neck
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) - these may be mac/pap in early stage
- many non-specific paediatric exanthems
- secondary syphilis - mainly trunk and extremities including palms and soles 4-10wks after primary infection
symmetric rashes starting on trunk then going to face and arms
- EBV / glandular fever / infectious mononucleosis - usually faint and non-itchy, appearing first on the trunk and upper arms, extending to involve the face and forearms 1)
mainly on trunk only
- roseola - rarely spreads to involve the neck, face, arms and legs
- pityriasis rosea
- herald patch on trunk usually; secondary plaques appear on trunk most often appearing from the top down, a few plaques may also appear on the thighs, upper arms, and neck, but are uncommon on the face, scalp, palms, or soles
-
- mainly affects hot sweaty areas covered by clothing
- Grover disease (transient acantholytic dermatosis)
- pruritic rash most often affects Caucasian men over 50 years of age with sundamaged skin and may involve upper arms
symmetric rashes starting from lower legs and going proximally
- hand foot and mouth - purplish vesicular lesions on fingers/toes then may get m/p rash on buttocks and mouth lesions
- erythema multiforme - these may be mac/pap in early stage
- mycoplasma - these may be mac/pap in early stage
rash_generalised.txt · Last modified: 2026/04/16 23:05 by gary1