Rashes can develop in response to irritants, allergens, infections or a person's genetic makeup. Their appearance varies depending on the cause, and may develop right away or take several days to appear. Some rashes are known to appear more during childhood, such as roseola and scarlet fever.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
According to Fred Ferri, M.D., in his book, Ferri's Clinical Advisor, rocky mountain spotted fever, or RMSF, is a life-threatening illness caused by an infection ticks give to humans. When a tick bite occurs, they transmit the organism Rickettsia rickettsii from their salivary glands into human dermis, or skin. Ferri notes, 0.18 to 0.32 cases per 100,000 people a year come down with RMSF. A rash with blanching macules, or small spots that are discolored initially appear on the wrists and ankles and then spreads to the palms, trunk and soles of the feet, notes Ferri. The flat rash could develop to a raised rash and no longer blanch, but have a purple color says Ferri. The rash usually appears the first three days in 50 percent of the affected people and in 80 percent by day 5. Ten percent have no rash as all. The treatment for RMSF consists of oral or intravenous doxycycline, oral tetracycline or chloramphenicol, according to Dr. Ferri. There is a 1 to 4 percent fatality rate with the rate being much higher if treatment is started after day 5 of illness.
Scarlet Fever
Caused by the Group A Streptococcus, the same bacteria that causes strep throat, scarlet fever, also referred to as scarlatina, is a contagious disease that causes a rash and other symptoms, such as a high fever, strawberry-looking tongue, flushed face, sore throat and swollen glands in the neck, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The scarlet fever rash appears as tiny, red bumps most often found on the chest and stomach. The rash can spread over the entire body, looking like a sunburn and feeling like sandpaper, notes the CDC website. The disease is caused by coming into contact with the infection person. It spreads by droplet when the infected person sneezes or coughs. According to Dr. Thomas Habif, in his book, "Clinical Dermatology," scarlet fever is usually a benign condition.
Roseola
Roseola is a common viral illness usually seen in infants. According to Dr. Ferri, almost one third of all infants will develop roseola by age two. Mayoclinic.com notes that the rash seen in Roseola usually follows several days of a high fever. Like scarlet fever, roseola usually isn't serious. On a rare occasion, complications from a high fever can result. The roseola rash appears as small pink dots or patches, usually flat, but could be raised. Sometimes there might be a white ring around the spots. Generally, the rash begins on the back, chest and abdomen, according to Mayoclinic.com. Roseola is spread person to person. Treatments is aimed at supportive care for the symptoms which include taking fever reducing medication, drinking plenty of fluids and perhaps a sponge bath in lukewarm water to reduce the fever. According to Dr. Ferri, a child with a fever and rash should stay home and not attend child care.
References
- "Ferri's Clinical Advisor"; Fred Ferri, MD; 2010
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Scarlet Fever
- "Clinical Dermatology"; Thomas Habif; 2009
- Mayoclinic.com: Roseola
