Rash with glandular fever

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introduction

A skin rash is not a mandatory criterion for an existing Pfeiffer glandular fever, but it does occur in some patients. Overall, however, only five percent of patients with Pfeiffer's glandular fever are also affected by a skin rash that occurs at the same time.
If the rash occurs, it often resembles the rash that occurs with rubella infection, but the rash in Pfeiffer's glandular fever is usually much less pronounced.
The severity of the rash can look different, from just minor redness to wheal-like swellings that are accompanied by itching. Sometimes the mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue are reddened at the same time.

Read more on the subject under: You can recognize Pfeiffer's glandular fever by these symptoms

How do you properly treat the rash?

An actual therapy against Pfeiffer's glandular fever or the associated one skin rash there is not any. Only for Symptom relief you can for example antipyretic or pain reliever medication use.

There is no symptom-relieving treatment for the rash. In theory, excessive itching cortisone supplements can be used, which is not usual in practice. It is important that the children or adults have a bed rest adhere to. Even after the disease has subsided, no Sports be driven, as there is sometimes a Spleen swelling can come, so the danger of a Ruptured spleen consists.

Duration of the excursion

Occurs skin rash during the illness, it manifests itself mostly in the first few days the disease. On average the disease holds for about three weeks so that the rash should have subsided by then at the latest. However, beyond the three weeks, over Weeks to months away an increased Exhaustion and fatigue consist.

Rash on the face

For the rash there is no preferred place of performance. In principle, can all skin areas be affected, including the face, which is then affected by small red dots is littered. At the same time, however, are usually still Arms, legs and chest affected.

Rash in the mouth

In rare cases, Pfeiffer's glandular fever can lead to an enanthem on the hard palate. This is a rash on the palate. This is also called "petechial " because the rash is whole small, red dots acts. A rash can also appear on the trunk of the body, which manifests itself as fine, red spots.
Far more common grayish coatings on the almondswhich show up very clearly when looking at the throat. Their appearance is also often referred to as dirty. However, other rashes in the mouth are not typical of Pfeiffer's glandular fever.

Rash after antibiotics

For therapy are suitable Antibiotics with a glandular fever of Pfeiffer Notas antibiotics only against bacterial infections work and Pfeiffer's glandular fever through one virus, the Epstein-Barr Virus is triggered.
A skin rash Pfeiffer's glandular fever does not always have to be triggered by the disease itself, but can also be caused by the administration of the antibiotic Amoxicillin be provoked which incorrectly prescribed by the doctor because Pfeiffer's glandular fever was not recognized as such by the doctor.
This so-called Drug eruption is much more massive than the rash that is triggered by a Pfeiffer glandular fever. The rash caused by the antibiotic amoxicillin is there intense red and very flat distributed over the body.
If this drug eruption occurs Ampicillin administration on, the diagnosis of Pfeiffer's glandular fever is practically made.

Amoxicillin rash in Pfeiffer's glandular fever

At Amoxicillin it is an antibiotic from the group of beta-lactams, more precisely the aminopenicillins. It is used for many diseases that are caused by bacteria. These include, for example, otitis media, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections. An undesirable side effect of treatment with amoxicillin can be a Drug eruption, a skin rash that takes on very different appearances. Are common measles- or scarlet-like rashes on the skin that appear about 7 to 12 days after taking the medicine.

In Pfeiffer's glandular fever, drug eruptions almost always occur after taking amoxicillin. Confusion of Pfeiffer's glandular fever with a bacterial one acute tonsillar angina can cause amoxicillin to be mistakenly given. If a rash occurs, the drug should be discontinued immediately. Even after you stop taking antibiotics, the rash may persist for a few days and cause severe itching. It is advisable to consult a doctor if such symptoms occur. This type of rash is not a “real” allergy, which is why Amoxicillin can also be used again in another illness if the rash occurs.

Rash on the tongue

The rash in Pfeiffer's glandular fever spreads all over the body. The mucous membrane around the mouth and the tongue are no exception.

The rash on the tongue can be recognized by small blisters and can further restrict swallowing, which is already restricted by the tonsillitis. The rash is more common in adults than in children, as the entire disease is more harmless in childhood.

Are you finding it difficult to swallow? - Then read our article on: difficulties swallowing

Rash on the hand

Viral diseases can also cause skin rashes on the hands. The inside of the hands is relatively rarely affected, but rashes on the hands can also occur in Pfeiffer's glandular fever.

In the differential diagnosis, hand, mouth and foot disease should also be considered in the event of a rash in the palm. There is often no typical reddening on the hands, but rather small blisters.

Read our article on this: Rash on the hands - what's behind it?

Concomitant symptoms

itching

As with many diseases caused by viruses, Pfeiffer's glandular fever can also lead to a rash. This shows up in the form of itchy redness and wheals. The itching can be limited with thorough skin care.

Despite the itching, those affected should not scratch the skin. In the differential diagnosis, an itchy rash should also include an allergic reaction to medication or other viral diseases. Even after it has healed, the skin may continue to itch, as it can become dry and flaky.

Do you suspect an allergic reaction to medication? - Then read our article about one Medication rash

Pustules

The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes Pfeiffer's glandular fever, is one of the herpes viruses. The rash may resemble a chickenpox rash or cold sore with mild pustules.

The pustules can itch and also burn after scratching. The rash can be similar to other conditions. The pustules are often fluid-filled and crust on as they heal. The content of the pustules is highly contagious, so contact with other people should be restricted.

More information can be found here:

• Skin rash with pustules - What is the underlying disease?
• Blistered skin rash - these are the causes

How contagious is Pfeiffer's glandular fever?

The time between contagion and outbreak the disease lies between 10 and 50 days. This time that that virus needs to infect the body is referred to as incubation period. The virus is transmitted via saliva contact, as the Virus excreted in saliva becomes.
Also before the first symptoms appear, the disease is already contagiousbecause the virus is already in the saliva is located and therefore has a Droplet infection can be transferred. A Risk of contagion can still long beyond the acute illness go. Usually there is a risk of infection over a few months, but also partly over years. Are you already on Pfeiffer's glandular fever sick, one is immune to it in the future.

Read more under our topic: How contagious is Pfeiffer's glandular fever?

How long there is a risk of infection with Pfeiffer's glandular fever cannot be clearly stated. After an infection, the virus survives for life in the body of an infected person and is periodically released into the saliva. The patients are then theoretically contagious.
Since almost the entire population over the age of 30 came into contact with the virus, the risk of infection no longer plays a role for them. However, there is always an increased risk of infection during an infection and a few weeks after an infection, since a particularly large amount of the virus is excreted in the saliva during this time, making infection easier.
In order to be infected with glandular fever, however, there must be close contact with an infected person, for example when kissing. Since the infection only occurs through contact with saliva, the rash itself does not pose a risk of infection.