Please Choose an Illness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Antibiotics Acute Gastroenteritis / Stomach Virus Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / ADHD Asthma Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema Bronchiolitis/RSV Canker Sores/Aphthous Ulcers/Aphthous Stomatitis Cellulitis Chicken Pox/Varicella-Zoster Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye Croup Diphtheria Ear Infections/Otitis Media Fever Fifth's Disease Fungal Rash Gastroesophageal Reflux Haemophilus Influenzae Type B/HIB Hand, Foot, and Mouth Syndrome Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hip Dysplasia Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Impetigo Jaundice Kawasaki Disease Keeping Children Healthy Lice Lyme Disease Measles Meningococcal Disease Mumps Nursemaid's Elbow Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis/Strept Throat Pneumococcal Infections Polio Pyloric Stenosis Rash Reflux Rheumatic Fever Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Roseola Rubella Scabies Scarlet Fever Sids/Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Crib Death Sinusitis Swimmer's Ear/Otitis Externa Tetanus Torticollis Upper Respiratory Infection/The Common Cold Viral Exanthem

Viral Exanthem

DEFINITION:

A rash caused by a viral infection.

SYMPTOMS:

Large or small red blotches (called macules or papules) on the skin sometimes associated with itching, swollen glands, or a fever.
	Viral Exanthem blotches

CAUSES:

Viruses, including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, roseola, 5th's disease, hand, foot, and mouth disease, and hundreds of other viruses.

OUTCOME:

Varies, depending on the virus.

CONTAGION:

The rashes are not contagious, however, the viruses causing the rash are contagious.

TREATMENT:

Usually just helping with the symptoms (symptomatic treatment) such as fluids, rest, and anti-itch creams.

DISCUSSION:

Many viruses have skin manifestations, called exanthems. When there is a manifestation of a virus in the mouth, it is called an enathem. Each virus presents in a different manner and therefore requires a separate explanation.

ONE DOCTOR'S OPINION:

I see viral rashes very frequently in my practice. The vast majority I simply call viral rash because they're caused by any one of hundreds of viruses. It seems that almost any cold virus can have a rash as part of its symptoms. A few of these viruses have more specific symptoms, and over the years, these viruses have been given names. Many of these viruses we try to prevent through vaccination. Others just run their natural course and have a few self-limited, harmless symptoms. Fortunately, because of vaccinations, the viral rashes we see today are mostly of the harmless variety.