Morbilliform Eruptions in the Hospitalized Child

Abstract

Morbilliform eruptions inspire a broad and varied differential spanning across inflammatory and infectious categories. The goal of this article is to help the clinician develop an approach toward the pediatric patient with a morbilliform eruption in the emergency room or hospital setting. The authors review several high-yield clinical scenarios with a focus on recently emerging and reemerging childhood diagnoses.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Drug eruption; Inpatient dermatology; Management; Morbilliform eruption; Pediatric; Viral exanthem.

Fig. 1

Morbilliform eruption. A young child with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection with associated morbilliform rash.

Fig. 2

Koplik spots. Pinpoint white macules along the buccal mucosa in an infant with measles infection.

Fig. 3

Chik sign. Clinical photograph of an infant's face demonstrates a positive chik sign.

Fig. 4

Dengue virus. Pinpoint petechiae and islands of sparing (arrows) on a background of erythema.

Fig. 5

Petechiae and purpuric macules in a child with RMSF.

Fig. 6

Mucosal findings in MIS-C. Strawberry tongue and cheilitis in a young child with MIS-C.

Fig. 7

Erythema, seborrheic scale, and facial edema in a boy with DRESS from ethosuximide.

Fig. 8

Acute GVHD. A morbilliform eruption and erythema accentuated on the palms in a child with acute GVHD.