Chickenpox differential diagnosis: Difference between revisions
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==Differentiating Chickenpox from other Diseases== | ==Differentiating Chickenpox from other Diseases== | ||
The following diseases should be considered during the [[diagnosis]] of [[chickenpox]]: | |||
*[[Insect bite]]s - In an [[insect bite]], the insect injects [[formic acid]], which can cause an immediate [[skin]] reaction often resulting in a [[rash]] and swelling in the injured area, often with formation of [[vesicles]]. | |||
The | *[[Kawasaki disease]] - commonly presents with high and persistent [[fever]], red [[mucous membranes]] in mouth, "[[strawberry tongue]]", [[swollen lymph nodes]] and [[skin rash]] in early disease, with peeling off of the [[skin]] of the [[hands]], [[feet]] and [[genital area]]. | ||
*[[Measles]] - commonly presents with high [[fever]], [[coryza]] and [[conjunctivitis]], with observation of [[oral mucosa|oral mucosal]] lesions ([[Koplik's spots]]), followed by widespread [[skin rash]]. | |||
*[[Monkeypox]] - presentation is similar to [[smallpox]], although it is often a milder form, with [[fever]], [[headache]], [[myalgia]], [[back pain]], [[swollen lymph nodes]], a general feeling of discomfort, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of [[fever]], the patient develops a papular [[rash]], often first on the face. The lesions usually develop through several stages before crusting and falling off. | |||
*[[Rubella]] - commonly presents with a facial [[rash]] which then spreads to the [[trunk]] and [[limbs]], fading after 3 days, low grade [[fever]], swollen [[glands]], [[joint pain]]s, [[headache]] and [[conjunctivitis]]. The [[rash]] disappears after a few days with no staining or peeling of the [[skin]]. ''[[Forchheimer's sign]]'' occurs in 20% of cases, and is characterized by small, red [[papules]] on the area of the [[soft palate]]. | |||
*Atypical [[measles]] - symptoms commonly begin about 7-14 days after infection and present as [[fever]], [[cough]], [[coryza]] and [[conjunctivitis]]. Observation of [[Koplik's spots]] is also a characteristic finding in measles. | |||
*[[Coxsackievirus]] - the most commonly caused disease is the [[Coxsackie A]] disease, presenting as ''hand, foot and mouth disease''. It may be [[asymptomatic]] or cause mild [[symptoms]], or it may produce [[fever]] and painful [[blisters]] in the mouth ([[herpangina]]), on the palms and fingers of the hand, or on the soles of the feet. There can also be [[blisters]] in the [[throat]] or above the [[tonsils]]. Adults can also be affected. The [[rash]], which can appear several days after high temperature and painful sore throat, can be itchy and painful, especially on the hands/fingers and bottom of feet. | |||
*[[Acne]] - typical of teenagers, usually appears on the [[face]] and upper neck, but the [[chest]], [[human back|back]] and [[shoulder]]s may have [[acne]] as well. The upper [[arm]]s can also have [[acne]], but lesions found there are often [[keratosis pilaris]], not [[acne]]. The typical [[acne]] lesions are [[comedones]] and [[inflammatory]] [[papules]], [[pustules]], and [[nodules]]. Some of the large [[nodules]] were previously called "[[cyst]]s" | |||
*[[Syphilis]] - commonly presents with gneralized systemic [[symptoms]] such as [[malaise]], [[fatigue]], [[headache]] and [[fever]]. [[Skin]] eruptions may be subtle and [[asymptomatic]] Classically described as 1) non-pruritic bilateral symmetrical mucocutaneous [[rash]]; 2) non-tender regional [[lymphadenopathy]]; 3) condylomata lata; and 4) patchy [[alopecia]]. | |||
*[[Molluscum contagiosum]] - lesions are commonly flesh-colored, dome-shaped, and pearly in appearance. They are often 1-5 millimeters in diameter, with a dimpled center. Generally not painful, but they may itch or become irritated. Picking or scratching the lesions may lead to further [[infection]] or scarring. In about 10% of the cases, [[eczema]] develops around the lesions. They may occasionally be complicated by secondary [[bacterial infections]]. | |||
*[[Mononucleosis]] - Common [[symptoms]] include low-grade [[fever]] without [[chills]], [[sore throat]], white patches on [[tonsils]] and back of the throat, [[muscle weakness]] and sometime extreme [[fatigue]], tender [[lymphadenopathy]], [[petechial hemorrhage]] and [[skin rash]]. | |||
*Toxic [[erythema]] - common [[rash]] in infants, with clustered and [[vesicular]] appearance. | |||
*[[Rat-bite fever]] - commonly presents with [[fever]], [[chills]], open sore at the site of the bite and [[rash]], which may show red or purple plaques. | |||
*[[Parvovirus B19]] - the [[rash]] of fifth disease is typically described as "slapped cheeks," with [[erythema]] across the cheeks and sparing the nasolabial folds, forehead, and mouth. | |||
*[[Cytomegalovirus]] - common [[symptoms]] include [[sore throat]], swollen [[lymph nodes]], [[fever]], [[headache]], [[fatigue]], [[weakness]], [[muscle pain]] and [[loss of appetite]]. | |||
*[[Scarlet fever]] - commonly includes [[fever]], punctate red [[macules]] on the hard and soft [[palate]] and [[uvula]] ([[Forchheimer's spots]]), bright red [[tongue]] with a "strawberry" appearance, [[sore throat]] and [[headache]] and [[lymphadenopathy]]. | |||
*[[Rocky Mountain spotted fever]] - [[symptoms]] may include [[maculopapular rash]], [[petechial rash]], [[abdominal pain]] and [[joint pain]]. | |||
*[[Stevens-Johnson syndrome]] - [[symptoms]] may include [[fever]], [[sore throat]] and [[fatigue]]. Commonly presents [[ulcers]] and other lesions in the [[mucous membranes]], almost always in the [[mouth]] and lips but also in the genital and anal regions. Those in the mouth are usually extremely painful and reduce the patient's ability to eat or drink. [[Conjunctivitis]] of the eyes occurs in about 30% of children. A [[rash]] of round lesions about an inch across, may arise on the face, trunk, arms and legs, and soles of the feet, but usually not on the scalp. | |||
*[[Varicella-zoster virus]] - commonly starts as a painful [[rash]] on one side of the face or body. The [[rash]] forms blisters that typically scab over in 7-10 days and clears up within 2-4 weeks. | |||
*[[Chickenpox]] - commonly starts with [[conjunctival]] and catarrhal [[symptoms]] and then characteristic spots appearing in two or three waves, mainly on the body and head, rather than the hands, becoming itchy raw pox (small open sores which heal mostly without scarring). Touching the fluid from a [[chickenpox]] blister can also spread the disease. | |||
*[[Meningococcemia]] - commonly presents with [[rash]], [[petechiae]], [[headache]], [[confusion]], and [[stiff neck]], high [[fever]], mental status changes, [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]]. | |||
*[[Rickettsialpox]] - first [[symptom]] is commonly a bump formed by a mite-bite, eventually resulting in a black, crusty scab. Many of the [[symptoms]] are [[flu]]-like including [[fever]], [[chills]], [[weakness]] and [[muscle pain]] but the most distinctive [[symptom]] is the [[rash]] that breaks out, spanning the person's entire body. | |||
*[[Meningitis]] - commonly presents with [[headache]], [[nuchal rigidity]], [[fever]], [[petechiae]] and [[altered mental status]]. | |||
*[[Impetigo]] - commonly presents with pimple-like lesions surrounded by [[erythematous]] [[skin]]. Lesions are [[pustules]], filled with [[pus]], which then break down over 4-6 days and form a thick crust. It's often associated with insect bites, cuts, and other forms of [[trauma]] to the [[skin]]. | |||
*Drug eruptions | *Drug eruptions | ||
Revision as of 23:56, 13 July 2014
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Michael Maddaleni, B.S. João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
There are many active considerations that need to be ruled out to diagnose chickenpox. The one exception to this is smallpox. Smallpox would be a major concern in the case of biological warfare.
Differentiating Chickenpox from other Diseases
The following diseases should be considered during the diagnosis of chickenpox:
- Insect bites - In an insect bite, the insect injects formic acid, which can cause an immediate skin reaction often resulting in a rash and swelling in the injured area, often with formation of vesicles.
- Kawasaki disease - commonly presents with high and persistent fever, red mucous membranes in mouth, "strawberry tongue", swollen lymph nodes and skin rash in early disease, with peeling off of the skin of the hands, feet and genital area.
- Measles - commonly presents with high fever, coryza and conjunctivitis, with observation of oral mucosal lesions (Koplik's spots), followed by widespread skin rash.
- Monkeypox - presentation is similar to smallpox, although it is often a milder form, with fever, headache, myalgia, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, a general feeling of discomfort, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a papular rash, often first on the face. The lesions usually develop through several stages before crusting and falling off.
- Rubella - commonly presents with a facial rash which then spreads to the trunk and limbs, fading after 3 days, low grade fever, swollen glands, joint pains, headache and conjunctivitis. The rash disappears after a few days with no staining or peeling of the skin. Forchheimer's sign occurs in 20% of cases, and is characterized by small, red papules on the area of the soft palate.
- Atypical measles - symptoms commonly begin about 7-14 days after infection and present as fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis. Observation of Koplik's spots is also a characteristic finding in measles.
- Coxsackievirus - the most commonly caused disease is the Coxsackie A disease, presenting as hand, foot and mouth disease. It may be asymptomatic or cause mild symptoms, or it may produce fever and painful blisters in the mouth (herpangina), on the palms and fingers of the hand, or on the soles of the feet. There can also be blisters in the throat or above the tonsils. Adults can also be affected. The rash, which can appear several days after high temperature and painful sore throat, can be itchy and painful, especially on the hands/fingers and bottom of feet.
- Acne - typical of teenagers, usually appears on the face and upper neck, but the chest, back and shoulders may have acne as well. The upper arms can also have acne, but lesions found there are often keratosis pilaris, not acne. The typical acne lesions are comedones and inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules. Some of the large nodules were previously called "cysts"
- Syphilis - commonly presents with gneralized systemic symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, headache and fever. Skin eruptions may be subtle and asymptomatic Classically described as 1) non-pruritic bilateral symmetrical mucocutaneous rash; 2) non-tender regional lymphadenopathy; 3) condylomata lata; and 4) patchy alopecia.
- Molluscum contagiosum - lesions are commonly flesh-colored, dome-shaped, and pearly in appearance. They are often 1-5 millimeters in diameter, with a dimpled center. Generally not painful, but they may itch or become irritated. Picking or scratching the lesions may lead to further infection or scarring. In about 10% of the cases, eczema develops around the lesions. They may occasionally be complicated by secondary bacterial infections.
- Mononucleosis - Common symptoms include low-grade fever without chills, sore throat, white patches on tonsils and back of the throat, muscle weakness and sometime extreme fatigue, tender lymphadenopathy, petechial hemorrhage and skin rash.
- Rat-bite fever - commonly presents with fever, chills, open sore at the site of the bite and rash, which may show red or purple plaques.
- Parvovirus B19 - the rash of fifth disease is typically described as "slapped cheeks," with erythema across the cheeks and sparing the nasolabial folds, forehead, and mouth.
- Cytomegalovirus - common symptoms include sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain and loss of appetite.
- Scarlet fever - commonly includes fever, punctate red macules on the hard and soft palate and uvula (Forchheimer's spots), bright red tongue with a "strawberry" appearance, sore throat and headache and lymphadenopathy.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever - symptoms may include maculopapular rash, petechial rash, abdominal pain and joint pain.
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome - symptoms may include fever, sore throat and fatigue. Commonly presents ulcers and other lesions in the mucous membranes, almost always in the mouth and lips but also in the genital and anal regions. Those in the mouth are usually extremely painful and reduce the patient's ability to eat or drink. Conjunctivitis of the eyes occurs in about 30% of children. A rash of round lesions about an inch across, may arise on the face, trunk, arms and legs, and soles of the feet, but usually not on the scalp.
- Varicella-zoster virus - commonly starts as a painful rash on one side of the face or body. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in 7-10 days and clears up within 2-4 weeks.
- Chickenpox - commonly starts with conjunctival and catarrhal symptoms and then characteristic spots appearing in two or three waves, mainly on the body and head, rather than the hands, becoming itchy raw pox (small open sores which heal mostly without scarring). Touching the fluid from a chickenpox blister can also spread the disease.
- Meningococcemia - commonly presents with rash, petechiae, headache, confusion, and stiff neck, high fever, mental status changes, nausea and vomiting.
- Rickettsialpox - first symptom is commonly a bump formed by a mite-bite, eventually resulting in a black, crusty scab. Many of the symptoms are flu-like including fever, chills, weakness and muscle pain but the most distinctive symptom is the rash that breaks out, spanning the person's entire body.
- Meningitis - commonly presents with headache, nuchal rigidity, fever, petechiae and altered mental status.
- Impetigo - commonly presents with pimple-like lesions surrounded by erythematous skin. Lesions are pustules, filled with pus, which then break down over 4-6 days and form a thick crust. It's often associated with insect bites, cuts, and other forms of trauma to the skin.
- Drug eruptions
- Smallpox
- Herpes simplex
- Insect bites
- Impetigo
- Erythema multiforme
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Syphilis