Exanthem Information & Exanthem Links at HealthHaven.com

Exanthem
	Classification and external resources
	; rubella
ICD-10	A38., B05.-B09.
ICD-9	034, 055-057, 782.1
DiseasesDB	25831
MeSH	D005076

An exanthem (from Greek "exanthema", a breaking out^[1]) is a widespread rash usually occurring in children. Exanthems can be caused by toxins or drugs, microorganisms, or can result from autoimmune disease.

It can be contrasted with an enanthem.

[edit] Types

Historically, six "classical" infectious childhood exanthems have been recognized.^[2] Numbers were provided in 1905.^[3]

They include:

measles (rubeola) ("first disease")
scarlet fever ("second disease"). Measles and scarlet fever were distinguished in the 17th century.^[4]
rubella ("third disease"). Rubella was identified in 1881.^[4]
Fourth disease, a condition whose existence is not widely accepted today, was described in 1900.^[4]
erythema infectiosum or parvovirus B19 ("fifth disease"). It was identified as a distinct condition in 1896.^[5]
roseola infantum ("sixth disease"). It is caused by HHV-6 and HHV-7

Scarlet fever is the only rash on this list caused by a bacterium; the others are caused by viruses. Many common viruses such as rhinovirus (the common cold) can also produce an exanthem.

Other exanthematic diseases exist that are not part of the classic list, either because they have only recently been discovered (e.g. unilateral laterothoracic exanthem of childhood) or because they have been found to represent not a single disease, but a general manifestations of various possible viral infections (once called Duke's disease); obviously there are other also other common paediatric infections that do not cause exanthems (e.g. mumps).

[edit] Prevention

Vaccinations now exist against measles, rubella and chickenpox.^[6]

[edit] References

^ "Roseola Glossary of Terms with Definitions on MedicineNet.com". http://www.medicinenet.com/roseola/glossary.htm.
^ Drago F, Rampini E, Rebora A (August 2002). "Atypical exanthems: morphology and laboratory investigations may lead to an aetiological diagnosis in about 70% of cases". Br. J. Dermatol. 147 (2): 255–60. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04826.x. PMID 12174095. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0007-0963&date=2002&volume=147&issue=2&spage=255.
^ fifth disease at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
^ ^a ^b ^c Weisse ME (January 2001). "The fourth disease, 1900-2000". Lancet 357 (9252): 299–301. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03623-0. PMID 11214144. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140-6736(00)03623-0.
^ Altman, Lawrence K (November 30, 1982). "[www.nytimes.com/1982/11/30/science/the-doctor-s-world.html?pagewanted=all THE DOCTOR'S WORLD]". The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/1982/11/30/science/the-doctor-s-world.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
^ Michael A. Pfaller; Murray, Patrick R.; Rosenthal, Ken S. (2005). Medical Microbiology (Medical Microbiology). Mosby Elsevier. p. 700. ISBN 0-323-03303-2.

[edit] External links

Overview at About.com
Definition at MedTerms
Differential diagnosis
Dermatology Quiz Includes photo, diagnosis, and treatment of unilateral laterothoracic exanthem (ULE).

This dermatology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[0] "Roseola Glossary of Terms with Definitions on MedicineNet.com". http://www.medicinenet.com/roseola/glossary.htm.

[pmid12174095-1] Drago F, Rampini E, Rebora A (August 2002). "Atypical exanthems: morphology and laboratory investigations may lead to an aetiological diagnosis in about 70% of cases". Br. J. Dermatol. 147 (2): 255–60. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04826.x. PMID 12174095. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0007-0963&date=2002&volume=147&issue=2&spage=255.

[2] fifth disease at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

[pmid11214144-3] Weisse ME (January 2001). "The fourth disease, 1900-2000". Lancet 357 (9252): 299–301. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03623-0. PMID 11214144. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140-6736(00)03623-0.

[urlTHE_DOCTORS_WORLD_-_New_York_Times-4] Altman, Lawrence K (November 30, 1982). "[www.nytimes.com/1982/11/30/science/the-doctor-s-world.html?pagewanted=all THE DOCTOR'S WORLD]". The New York Times. www.nytimes.com/1982/11/30/science/the-doctor-s-world.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-11-07.

[isbn0-323-03303-2-5] Michael A. Pfaller; Murray, Patrick R.; Rosenthal, Ken S. (2005). Medical Microbiology (Medical Microbiology). Mosby Elsevier. p. 700. ISBN 0-323-03303-2.

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Contents

[edit] Types

[edit] Prevention

[edit] References

[edit] External links