General Exam-Approach To Rashes

Question 1

What are the important questions you should ask in history?

Answer 1

1. Age of baby
2. Medication
3. Travel history
4. Season of the year
5. Exposure to insects/ill contacts
6. Childhood illnesses
7. Immunization status

Question 2

Describe each of the small primary lesions <0,5cm

• macula
• papule
• vesicle
• pustule
• petechiae

Answer 2

• Macule: flat, circumscribed, non-palpable, coloured
• papule: raised, palpable, solid
• vesicle: raised, palpable, fluid filled
• pustule- raised, palpable, pus filled
• petechiae: pin point, red spots, non-blanching

Question 3

What 4 points do we need to describe a rash?

Answer 3

1. Morphology
2. Distribution
3. Configuration
4. Colour