Carlos A. Arango, MD; Ross Jones, MD 8 viral exanthems of childhood Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida, Some share features, making them difficult to Jacksonville distinguish. Others may not be on your radar. Here we
[email protected]. edu review 8 you’re likely to see or need to exclude. The authors reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article. amily physicians encounter skin rashes on a daily basis. PRACTICE First steps in making the diagnosis include identifying RECOMMENDATIONS the characteristics of the rash and determining whether ❯ Administer the varicella- F the eruption is accompanied by fever or any other symptoms. zoster vaccine to all adults In the article that follows, we review 8 viral exanthems of child- ≥60 years of age to prevent or attenuate herpes zoster hood that range from the common (chickenpox) to the not-so- infection. A common (Gianotti-Crosti syndrome). ❯ Avoid congenital rubella syndrome by vaccinating all at-risk pregnant women. A Varicella-zoster virus Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a human neurotropic alphaher- ❯ Administer 2 doses of the pesvirus that causes a primary infection commonly known as measles vaccine (one at chickenpox (varicella).1 This disease is usually mild and re- 12-15 months of age and solves spontaneously. one at 4-6 years of age) to all children to avoid a This highly contagious virus is transmitted by directly resurgence. A touching the blisters, saliva, or mucus of an infected person. It is also transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing. Strength of recommendation (SOR) VZV initiates primary infection by inoculating the respiratory A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence mucosa.