Key elements from the history include:
Distribution and progression of the skin lesions
Recent exposures (sick contacts, foreign travel, sexual history and vaccination status)
Any new medications
Distribution and progression of the skin lesions
Recent exposures (sick contacts, foreign travel, sexual history and vaccination status)
Any new medications
Pay specific attention to vital signs
A rash associated with fever or hypotension should make you worry about potentially deadly diagnoses
Perform a careful physical exam
Undressing the patient to fully examine the trunk and the extremities
Look at palms, soles and mucous membranes
Touch the skin with a gloved hand to determine if the lesions are flat or raised
Press on lesions to see whether they blanch
Rub erythematous skin to see if it sloughs
A rash associated with fever or hypotension should make you worry about potentially deadly diagnoses
Undressing the patient to fully examine the trunk and the extremities
Look at palms, soles and mucous membranes
Touch the skin with a gloved hand to determine if the lesions are flat or raised
Press on lesions to see whether they blanch
Rub erythematous skin to see if it sloughs
General approach to rashes
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
Anticonvulsant levels and reloading
Allergic reaction
Tick removal
Aphthous stomatitis
Bioterrorism antibiotics
Atopic dermatitis