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Pityriasis rosea in Child
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Pityriasis rosea in Child

Contributors: Connie R. Shi MD, Susan Burgin MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Pityriasis rosea is a common and typically self-limited cutaneous eruption. Classically, a solitary scaly, pink, or skin-colored plaque – the "herald patch" – appears first, often on the trunk. The ensuing eruption appears days to weeks later and consists of multiple discrete oval, erythematous, and scaly plaques and patches oriented along skin cleavage lines, most commonly on the trunk and upper extremities. The face, palms, and soles are usually spared.

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 4-8 weeks. Recurrence is rare.

Adolescents and young adults are most commonly affected. Pityriasis rosea is uncommon in children under 10 years of age. An atypical form of pityriasis rosea characterized by papular lesions and facial and scalp involvement is more prevalent in children of African descent. In individuals with darker skin phototypes, hyperpigmentation can result upon resolution.

While the exact cause remains unclear, pityriasis rosea in children is thought to be associated with primary infection or systemic reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7).

Certain drugs 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

Look For

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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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.

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References

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Last Reviewed:02/01/2017
Last Updated:03/29/2017
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Pityriasis rosea in Child
A medical illustration showing key findings of Pityriasis rosea : Oval configuration, Pink color, Primarily truncal distribution, Pruritus
Clinical image of Pityriasis rosea - imageId=3696704. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Multiple erythematous papules and a larger annular plaque ("herald patch") on the chest.'
Multiple erythematous papules and a larger annular plaque ("herald patch") on the chest.
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