Red rash
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Understanding Red Rash: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management
Common Causes of Red Rash
Red rashes can arise from a multitude of causes, ranging from infections and inflammatory conditions to systemic diseases and drug reactions. In children, common causes include viral exanthems such as measles, infestations like scabies, and fungal infections such as tinea1. In adults, red rashes can be due to conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and seborrhoeic dermatitis5 7. In older patients, additional causes include atopic dermatitis, generalized drug eruptions, and non-bullous pemphigoid4.
Red Rash on Specific Body Parts
Face
Red rashes on the face can be particularly concerning due to their visibility and potential severity. Conditions such as angioedema, allergic contact dermatitis, and severe drug reactions like DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) can present with a red, swollen face6. Stress can exacerbate facial rashes, as seen in a case where a 28-year-old man experienced recurrent facial rashes worsened by stress3.
Vulva
Red rashes on the vulva can be challenging to diagnose due to the moist and occluded environment, which can alter typical clinical features. These rashes may be due to neoplasms, infections, or inflammatory skin diseases, and often require a detailed history, physical examination, and sometimes biopsy or culture for accurate diagnosis2.
Diagnostic Approaches
Accurate diagnosis of red rashes often requires a combination of clinical assessment and diagnostic tests. Simple procedures such as skin biopsies, scrapings, and fungal microscopy can be performed in a general practice setting to aid in diagnosis5 7. In cases where the diagnosis remains unclear, histopathology and direct immunofluorescence can be valuable tools4.
Management Strategies
Management of red rashes depends on the underlying cause. For instance, psoriasis and eczema may be managed with topical steroids and moisturizers, while fungal infections like tinea require antifungal treatments1 5. In cases of severe conditions such as angioedema or DRESS, prompt medical intervention is crucial6. Additionally, patient-specific factors such as physical impairments and carer availability must be considered, especially in older patients4.
Rare and Severe Presentations
Some red rashes can indicate rare or severe conditions. For example, erythroderma, a generalized redness of the skin, can be caused by various factors including psoriasis, infections, and drug reactions1. Another rare presentation is a red rash associated with systemic symptoms, such as the case of a 13-year-old boy with a staphylococcal obturator abscess and ischial osteomyelitis, initially presenting with red eyes, rash, and fever10.
Conclusion
Red rashes are a common dermatological issue with a wide range of potential causes. Accurate diagnosis often requires a combination of clinical assessment and diagnostic tests. Management strategies vary depending on the underlying cause and patient-specific factors. Awareness of the diverse presentations and appropriate diagnostic approaches can aid in effective treatment and management of red rashes.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Red rashes and erythroderma
This chapter covers various red skin rashes, infections, and rare diseases, including erythroderma, dietary insufficiency, Kawasaki disease, and mycosis fungoides.
Red Rashes of the Vulva.
Red patches and plaques in the vulva may be manifestations of neoplasms, infections, or inflammatory skin diseases, making clinical diagnosis difficult.
A red rash on the face.
28-year-old man came to the office with a rash on his face. He reported he has had this rash on and off for 3 years. The rash sometimes itches around his moustache, and it gets worse with stress—he has been under increasing stress for the past 2 months. He is in good health and does not have any other symptoms, and he denies any risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). PHOTO ROUNDS A red rash on the face
Case ReportApproach to red, scaly eruptions in the older patient.
A thorough clinical assessment can help differentiate between common causes of red, scaly rash in older patients, with skin biopsy being useful for unclear diagnoses.
Case ReportCommon red scaly rashes. Traps for the unwary--Part 1.
General practitioners can improve diagnosis of common red scaly rashes by learning simple diagnostic techniques like biopsy, skin scrapings, and fungal microscopy.
Observational StudyThe rash that presents as a red swollen face.
A red swollen face can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, and proper diagnosis and management are crucial for effective treatment.
Common red scaly rashes. Traps for the unwary--Part 2.
Simple diagnostic procedures like biopsy, skin scrapings, and fungal microscopy can enhance GPs' knowledge and help diagnose common red scaly rashes.
Observational StudyAn intermittent red‐purple rash after shopping in the fresh food section
A red-purple rash on the hands and feet occurred after shopping in the fresh food section, but it disappeared quickly after exposure to warm air.
Case ReportA painful rash
A 54 year old man presented with a flare of Crohn’s disease. He had developed a painful red rash on his face, neck, and shoulders one week prior to this flare. Clinical examination showed multiple tender erythematous plaques with superadded pustules and surrounding erythema. Laboratory investigations showed a white cell count of 15×109/l—essentially neutrophilia—and a C reactive protein concentration of 106 mg/l. Blood tests were otherwise unremarkable. The patient is shown 10 days after onset of the rash, when the lesions were beginning to resolve.⇓ ⇓ Fig 1 Frontal photograph of the patient’s forehead 10 days after the onset of the rash Fig 2 Close up photographs of two of the facial lesions ### Short answers ### Long answers #### 1 Sweet’s syndrome Sweet’s syndrome, also known as acute febrile …
Case Report
Rigorous JournalRed eyes and red rash with fever: an uncommon initial presentation for staphylococcal obturator abscess with adjacent ischial osteomyelitis.
Red eyes, red rash, and fever are uncommon initial presentations for staphylococcal obturator abscess with adjacent ischial osteomyelitis, but may indicate other bacterial or viral illnesses.
Case Report