If left untreated, the diseases that cause red skin with white bumps can cause life-threatening complications. The viruses that cause red skin with white bumps belong to the herpes family of viruses. The herpes simplex one virus, herpes simplex two virus and the herpes zoster virus can all be the cause of skin rashes with white bumps.
Viruses
The Herpes Zoster virus causes chickenpox and shingles. The Herpes Simplex viruses cause cold sores, gladiator herpes and genital herpes. All of these viruses have the ability to remain dormant in your body for years after the initial infection. After which they can re-emerge causing the appearance of new symptoms.
Herpes Simplex
The herpes simplex viruses can cause sores anywhere on the surface of your body, providing that there is damaged skin in the area or exposed mucous membrane. During the initial infection, a person will experience fever, muscle pain and general fatigue. This is followed by the appearance of itchy red skin with white pus-filled lesions. If left untreated, the initial herpes infection can spread through the nervous tissue and infect the brain as well as the spinal cord. In these cases, fatal outcomes are possible. After the initial infection, it is common for the pus-filled lesions to periodically appear.
Herpes Zoster
The herpes zoster virus causes the diseases chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox is a condition common in children and adolescents. Shingles is a disease caused by the reactivation of the herpes zoster virus years after the chicken pox infection. Both of these diseases may cause fever, muscle pain, fatigue and headaches. Painful patches of red skin with white bumps are also a symptom of shingles and chickenpox.
Prevention
These diseases can be prevented through vaccination and avoiding contact with infected individuals. Chickenpox is an airborne infection and is spread through the coughing and sneezing of an infected individual as well as contact with the lesions. Patients suffering from chickenpox should avoid uninfected individuals. Herpes simplex infections and shingles are contagious if you come into contact with lesions, and as long as physical contact is not made, an individual with an active infection can interact with others.
Diagnosis/Treatment
The diagnosis of these conditions is made by reviewing a patient's medical history and taking samples from active lesions. The samples taken help identify the virus during lab test. After the diagnosis, anti-viral medications suppress the infection. These drugs can be combined with anti-inflammatory drugs and certain lifestyle adjustments.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Edition"; Lawrence Madoff, James Macguire, Kenneth Brandt, Bruce Gillaind, Scott Thaier; 2005
- "Control of Communicable Diseases Manual 18th Edition ;" David L. Heymann; 2004
- "Dermatology and Venerology"; S.T.Pavlolv, O.K.Shaposhnikov, V.I.Samcov, I.I.Ilyin and K.R. Babayan; 2002
- "Preventive and Social Medicine" K. Park, J. E. Park : 1995
