Pityriasis rosea in Adult
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
Pityriasis rosea is usually asymptomatic, although it occasionally may be pruritic. Constitutional symptoms may precede the eruption, including fever, headache, cough, and arthralgia. In a majority of patients, the rash typically resolves within 8 weeks. Recurrence is rare.
Adolescents and young adults are most commonly affected. Of note, pityriasis rosea occurring during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of fetal demise and miscarriage, particularly if the lesions appear within the first 15 weeks of gestation. In pregnant individuals, the eruption may present in a more widespread distribution compared with classic pityriasis rosea and may be associated with systemic symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite. Close follow-up of pregnant patients with pityriasis rosea is recommended. Occasionally, pityriasis rosea can affect children under 10 years of age.
While the exact cause remains unclear, pityriasis rosea is thought to be associated with systemic reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7).
Certain drugs, such as captopril, clonidine, omeprazole, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), metronidazole, terbinafine, and lamotrigine, among many others, can cause a pityriasiform eruption that resembles pityriasis rosea. Drug-related pityriasis rosea-like lesions may appear more red-violet in color, typically do not present with a herald patch, and may be associated with eosinophilia.
Codes
ICD10CM:L42 – Pityriasis rosea
SNOMEDCT:
77252004 – Pityriasis rosea
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Exanthematous drug eruption
- Tinea corporis
- Tinea versicolor
- Nummular dermatitis (nummular eczema) – very pruritic
- Guttate psoriasis – smaller size, thicker scale
- Small plaque parapsoriasis
- Secondary syphilis – Genital and palmoplantar lesions. Systemic symptoms are more pronounced, including lymphadenopathy, fevers, history of primary chancre, condyloma lata. If remotely suspicious, check syphilis serologies.
- Erythema multiforme
- Urticaria
- Other conditions with a "Christmas tree" distribution, including pityriasis lichenoides, erythema dyschromicum perstans (ashy dermatosis), and, often, drug-induced lichen planus. Aggressive HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma may show a pityriasis rosea-like pattern with oval violaceous papules and nodules.
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:02/01/2017
Last Updated:08/10/2021
Last Updated:08/10/2021
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Pityriasis rosea in Adult