Symptoms
DEFINITION
- Rash over most of the body (widespread or generalized)
- Occasionally just on hands, feet, and buttocks - but symmetrical
- Small spots, large spots, or solid red
- Cause of rash is unknown
General Information
- Three widespread rashes that individuals may be able to recognize are: hives, insect bites, and sunburn. If present, use that topic. If not, use this topic.
- An adult with fever and rash should seek medical attention immediately. A number of serious infections present in this manner.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
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Should I Call?
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If
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- Very weak (can't stand)
- Purple or blood-colored rash with fever
- Sudden onset of rash (within past 2 hours) and also have difficulty with breathing or swallowing
- Difficult to awaken or acting confused
- Life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis) in the past to similar substance (e.g., food, insect bite/sting, chemical, etc.) and less than 2 hours since exposure
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Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
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- You feel weak or very sick
- Purple or blood-colored rash without fever
- Bright red skin that peels off in sheets
- Bright red, sunburn-like rash after either wound infection or recent surgery
- Bright red, sunburn-like rash after either tampon use or nasal packing
- Rash looks like large or small blisters (i.e. fluid-filled bubbles or sacs on the skin)
- Rash began within 4 hours of a new prescription medication
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck (unable to touch chin to chest)
- Joint pain or swelling
- Sores also present in mouth
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Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
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- A widespread rash, but none of the symptoms described above
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Care at Home
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR WIDESPREAD RASHES (Pending Talking With Your Doctor)
- Reassurance: There are many causes of widespread rashes and most of the time they are not serious. Common causes include viral illness (e.g., cold viruses) and allergic reactions (to a food, medicine, or environmental exposure).
- For Non-Itchy Rashes: No treatment is necessary, except for heat rashes, which respond to cool baths.
- For Itchy Rashes:
- Wash the skin once with gentle non-perfumed soap to remove any irritants. Rinse the soap off thoroughly.
- You may also take an oatmeal (Aveeno) bath or take an antihistamine medication by mouth to help reduce the itching.
- Oatmeal Aveeno Bath for Itching: Sprinkle contents of one Aveeno packet under running faucet with comfortably warm water. Bathe for 15 - 20 minutes, 1-2 times daily. Pat dry with a towel - do not rub.
- Oral Antihistamine Medication for Itching: Take an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for widespread rashes that itch. The adult dosage of Benadryl is 25-50 mg by mouth 4 times daily.
- Do not take antihistamine medications if you have prostate enlargement.
- Antihistamines may cause sleepiness. Do not drink, drive or operate dangerous machinery while taking antihistamines.
- An over-the-counter antihistamine that causes less sleepiness is loratadine (e.g., Alavert or Claritin).
- Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take
- Contagiousness: Avoid contact with pregnant women until a diagnosis is made. Most viral rashes are contagious (especially if a fever is present). You can return to work or school after the rash is gone or when your doctor says it is safe to return with the rash.
- Expected Course: Most viral rashes disappear within 48 hours.
- Call Your Doctor If:
And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
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Photo Example
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
This photo shows the lower legs of a patient with the the typical rash of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
There is a wide spread red rash (red spots). There are also some petechiae (very small red-purple spots that don't blanch when you push on them).
Source: Barton Schmitt, Copyright Barton Schmitt MD
Chickenpox Rash
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus resulting in an itchy blister-like rash, tiredness and fever.
It appears first on the trunk and face, but can spread over the entire body causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
This is a public domain image file from Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia is a freely licensed media repository.
Chickenpox on Abdomen
The Chickenpox rash can occur on all body surfaces.
The rash is no longer contagious when all of the spots are crusted over and no new spots are appearing. This usually takes 7 days from the first appearance of the rash.
Penicillin Rash on the Arm
This patient had a widespread rash from an allergy to penicillin. The picture shows the arm.
Source: CDC PHIL
From the CDC's Public Health Image Library (http://phil.cdc.gov), ID#1268, in the public domain.
Content Provider(s): CDC / Dr. Sellers.
Scarlet Fever Rash
The photo shows the typical Scarlet Fever rash on the forearm.
The scarlet fever rash first appears as tiny red bumps on the chest and abdomen that may spread all over the body. Looking like a sunburn, it feels like a rough piece of sandpaper, and lasts about 2-5 days.
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by the same bacteria (Streptococcus) that causes strep throat. A person with Scarlet fever has a throat that is red and sore, usually a fever, usually swollen glands in the neck, and a Scarlet fever rash.
Source: CDC PHIL
From the CDC's Public Health Image Library (http://phil.cdc.gov), ID#5163, in the public domain.
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Author and Senior Reviewer: David A. Thompson, M.D. Clinical content review provided by Senior Reviewer and Healthpoint Medical Network.
Last Review Date: 6/1/2011
Last Revised: 4/17/2010
Content Set: Adult HouseCalls Symptom Checker
Version Year: 2012
Portions Copyright 2000-2012 Self Care Decisions LLC; Copyright LMS, Inc.
