Rash after fever
introduction
A rash after a fever is not uncommon and is common with viral or bacterial infectious diseases. However, other causes, such as a drug intolerance, can also be responsible for a skin rash with a previous fever.
The rash can vary in appearance and location. The rash is usually red in color and often found on several areas of the body. In addition, pustules, nodules, wheals or vesicles may appear on the skin.
The underlying disease decides on the necessary therapy, although the rash itself usually does not need to be treated. In many cases it disappears on its own after a few days.
causes
If a rash occurs after a fever, various causes can be responsible. Infectious diseases are the most common.
The so-called three days fever (Exanthema subitum) is an infection caused by the human herpes virus 6 that is characterized by a sudden high fever. After a few days the fever will decrease and a blotchy rash will appear on the trunk of the body. Even with the so-called childhood diseases such as measles, rubella and scarlet fever, which adults can of course also get, a fever occurs first, which disappears after a few days. A skin rash then appears, which differs in appearance in the various diseases.
While the rash of measles and scarlet fever tends to be nodular and blotchy, rubella is more likely to be a disordered reddening that begins on the face and then spreads to the body.
Shingles can also be heralded by a previous fever. The painful skin rash accompanied by blisters and papules is only found on one side of the body.
Another possibility for rash after fever is rheumatic fever. This is an autoimmune reaction of the immune system that occurs 3 weeks after a febrile, bacterial throat infection. The infection is usually triggered by streptococcal bacteria. In rare cases, however, this can lead to repeated fevers in addition to the rash.
Furthermore, an Epstein-Barr virus infection mistakenly treated with antibiotics, usually amoxicillin (rash caused by amoxicillin), can cause a rash.
The rash after a fever can also be triggered by a drug allergy. For example, if the patient has to take antibiotics such as penicillin for a bacterial infection, an allergic rash may appear all over the body.
Concomitant symptoms
Since a rash after a fever is often caused by an infectious disease, there are often characteristic accompanying symptoms that are typical for the individual diseases.
Infectious diseases generally include not only fever but also other symptoms such as cough, sore throat and swelling of the cervical lymph nodes.
The three-day fever can be accompanied by water retention in the eyelids (edema) and diarrhea. In addition to a general feeling of illness, measles can also be accompanied by conjunctivitis or photophobia.
Rubella often leads to a characteristic rash preceded by a fever.
Read more on the subject at: Rubella rash
The Epstein-Barr virus is characterized by inflammation of the tonsils. The enlarged tonsils often show a whitish-greyish coating.
With rheumatic fever, in addition to the rash, inflammation of the heart and joint pain can occur.
Please also read our article on this Rash and joint pain
Accompanying symptoms such as a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, bad breath and a so-called raspberry tongue are typical in scarlet fever.
The drug allergy cannot only manifest itself through a rash. It can also be associated with a gastrointestinal tract disorder or breathing difficulties.
Rash and diarrhea
If the Rash after the fever at the same time with diarrhea on, it is usually a Drug allergy, because these often too Causes disorders in the intestines. A drug allergy can also manifest itself in a rash and diarrhea.
Most Teething problems and also that Three days of fever can be accompanied by diarrhea.In this case, however, the diarrhea usually does not occur at the same time as the rash, but before it - at the same time as the fever and other symptoms such as cough, sore throat or swelling of the lymph nodes.
diagnosis
After a detailed discussion about accompanying symptoms with the doctor, he can usually narrow down the possible causes.
Even with childhood diseases like measles, there is one at the beginning typical localization of the rash.
At measles this usually begins, for example behind the ears and then spreads further over the body. After the discussion, the doctor will take a closer look at the rash and can get closer to the cause through its color, shape and possibly accompanying properties such as pustules or vesicles. In the case of infectious diseases, the suspicion can be corroborated by the detection of antibodies against the respective pathogen.
Is the possible cause a Drug intolerance, the drug should be stopped and the rash should go away.
therapy
The treatment takes place depending on the cause of the disease. Generally, the rash can be severe if itching Fenistil® Ointment or, if necessary, a glucocorticoid cream prescribed by a doctor.
In most cases, especially in the case of childhood diseases, there is no need for therapy because the rash will go away on its own.
Is the rash caused by a Drug allergy triggered, the drug should be discontinued and, if necessary, replaced with another.
At Scarlet fever occurs a Administration of antibiotics, which kills the bacterium causing the disease and thus the rash disappears again. When treating the Shingles rash can be a so-called Zinc shaking mixture can be applied, which has anti-inflammatory and antipruritic properties.
homeopathy
There are different homeopathic remedieswhich can be used for the early, general symptoms such as fever and sore throat and which work against the rash. It is recommended for three-day fever, measles and rubella Belladonna to take.
The rash at Scarlet fever can with Rhus toxicodendron be treated.
Will be used in shingles Apis mellifica and Mezereum recommended.
The Therapy of rheumatic fever can with Phytolacca get supported.
For a rash caused by a drug allergy Cardiospermum be taken.
You can read more information on this topic here: Home remedies for a rash
infection
During the rash in one Drug allergy no risk of infection offers are the so-called Childhood illnesses are sometimes highly contagious.
Measles, for example, can be transmitted even with brief contact. However, if you have already lived through the disease, you have lifelong immunity and cannot get infected again.
With a Scarlet fever infection however, one can do more often infecteven if you've had scarlet fever before.
In the Shingles it is about the Reactivation of chickenpox viruses that persist in the body. Shingles per se is not as contagious as chickenpox itself. However, people who are not vaccinated against chickenpox or have not yet had the disease can get through it Infect the bubble fluid. This is where the virus is located (Is Shingles Contagious?).
Duration
The rash caused by a viral or bacterial infection usually disappears after a fever some days again.
If the rash is caused by a Drug allergy triggered, this also sounds few days after stopping the drug again.
In the Shingles can the Duration of the rash strong varybecause it depends on the person's immune system. If the immune system is strong, the rash can go away after one to three days. However, if it is an elderly person with a very weak immune system, the rash can drag on for a few weeks.
The rash at rheumatic fever can occur continuously or in bursts. He disappears after Weeks to months again.
Rash and fever in adults
Adults can theoretically develop a rash after a fever due to all the diseases mentioned above. Often the painful blistered rash that occurs only on one side is triggered by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. This leads to the clinical picture of Shingles. This reactivation is special at immunodeficiencythat also through stress can be triggered, likely.
A Drug intolerance does not necessarily have to occur in childhood and is therefore also possible in adulthood if a drug is taken again that has not previously been reacted to.
The rash after fever caused by taking antibiotics (Rash after antibiotics) usually occurs in young adulthood.
Three days of fever, Scarlet fever and measles Although they occur more frequently in children, adults can also become infected with these diseases.
That too rheumatic fever occurs in adulthood extremely seldom and has its peak of illness between the ages of 3 and 16.
Rash and fever in the child
Children can also develop a rash after a fever from almost all of the diseases mentioned so far. However, certain diseases are also more common in children and are therefore more likely. If, for example, there is no recommended measles vaccination in infancy or if it is not given sufficiently often, children can get measles at any age.
However, since it is common to give this standard vaccination along with vaccinations against rubella, mumps and chickenpox, the disease does not occur as often.
Scarlet fever has its peak in children between the ages of four and ten years. Ringlet rubella also occurs more frequently in children between the ages of five and ten. The rash that occurs with rheumatic fever is more common in children between the ages of three and ten.
A drug allergy can of course appear at any age.
Shingles can also occur right after a chickenpox infection. The course is usually more harmless in children than in adults, although the symptoms are the same.
Read more on the topic:
- Rash in children
- Scarlet fever rash
Rash and fever in the baby
As in Children can also send babies to the typical teething problems like measles and develop a rash. It must be mentioned, however, that the cause of a rash after a fever in infants is almost never scarlet fever, as babies very rarely get it. The Three days of fever and thus the rash after a fever often affects babies and toddlers between the ages of six months and two years. It comes here to one sudden high feverwhich lasts about 3-5 days. Then the temperature drops and the baby develops one fine-spotted rash, which can mostly be found on the trunk of the body.
Concomitant symptoms how to cough, Water retention in the lids and diarrhea can give another clue about the disease. The disease is very common. Almost all children are infected with the virus by the age of 3.
