Peer Reviewed

What's Your Diagnosis?

A Child With a Red Rash

By ALEXANDER K. C. LEUNG, MD--Series Editor, and WM. LANE M. ROBSON, MD

Volume 5 - Issue 6 - June 2006

 

  • ERYTHEMA INFECTIOSUM

     

    HISTORY

    A 7-year-old boy with red, nonpruritic rash that appeared first on the cheeks and then spread to the trunk, extremities, and buttocks. No history of respiratory, GI, or other symptoms in the several weeks before the onset of the rash. Patient is otherwise healthy.

    PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

    The child is afebrile. A lacy erythematous rash is noted on the trunk, extremities, and buttocks.

    Erythema infectiosum—also known as fifth disease—is a benign self-limited exanthematous illness of childhood. The condition was the fifth common childhood exanthem to benamed (after measles, scarlet fever, rubella, and Filatov-Dukes disease [an atypical scarlet fever]).

    WHAT'S YOUR DIAGNOSIS?

    Answer and discussion on next page

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