Medical Advices Blog

What is a rash?

A rash is a generalized rash that is often associated with systemic infection, usually caused by infection, although there are other causes as discussed below.

The rash itself is a common cause of pediatric consultation, then the alarm wakes the family, especially because almost always accompanied by fever.

Causes of rashes

The causes of the appearance of a rash in a child can be very varied and numerous, but can be divided into three groups:

- Infectious agents, viruses and bacterial toxins (described more than 50)

- Medications

- Inflammatory diseases.

Why do I get the rash?

The cause is not well known but is believed to be due to one or more of the following factors:

- Direct cellular damage of the agent on the skin

- Toxins of infectious agents that act on the skin

- Mechanism of body’s own defense against the causative agent.

The skin is only a few mechanisms to cause reactions. Therefore different cases may cause the same skin disorder.

Only a few diseases cause skin disorders and unmistakable own and in these cases is said that the rash is “pathognomonic” of the disease.

How can you differentiate the source of a rash?

To achieve the proper diagnosis is necessary to make a good collection of all clinical data from the source of the picture, ie to do a good history. The pediatrician should be comprehensive and to carry out a methodical investigation that lets you get all the data necessary to develop a “presumptive diagnosis” to a child with a rash.

Important data for diagnosis

- About the rash: time of onset, body distribution, duration and recurrence.

- Accompanying symptoms: fever, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen glands, joint pains, etc..

- Precipitating factors: vaccinations in previous days, medication management, contact with plants or animals, contact with detergents or softeners new, sun exposure, clothing or new shoes or past illnesses.

- Predisposing factors: personal or family history of atopy, allergy, psoriasis.

- Environmental epidemiology: siblings or sick family members, day care or school contacts. Season.

- State child immunization: vaccines administered, immunosuppression.

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