Itchy rash
Itchy rashes, with the exception of chickenpox and impetigo, are not infectious. Which diseases present with an itchy rash and how do they develop and heal ?
Chickenpox manifests itself with a headache and fever, followed by the seeding of pimples on the head and face, from where it spreads to the whole body. The pimples become purulent blisters that itch badly. Infectivity lasts for about 7 days. Chickenpox can also occur in vaccinated people.
Impetigo is a bacterial infectious itchy rash. It appears most often on the face and in the hair. At first a red spot appears, later it turns into blisters that burst and form yellowish scabs on a swollen base. After the scab falls off, a red spot remains, which fades with time. Impetigo can spread throughout the body. It needs to be treated with antibiotics.
Sun rash appears after exposure to the sun, in the form of reddened skin on the exposed areas and the seeding of small itchy pimples that may merge into urticaria-like spots.
Urticaria is a skin itchy rash, characterised by reddened pimples that merge into raised patches. The skin looks like it has been burned by nettles. It is a reaction to the leaching of histamine into the body. Increased histamine production is caused by, or supplied to the body by, certain foods and drugs. More rarely, it is caused by stress or hormonal fluctuations. Hives usually subside within two hours to days. There is also chronic urticaria, lasting several months.
Mycosis is a fungal disease that usually affects parts of the body that sweat and steam - skin folds, interdigital areas, pubic hair. Some types manifest as an itchy rash. Mycosis is determined by swabbing.
Allergy is a congenital disease. There are about three thousand allergens. The skin can react to encounters with them in the form of an itchy rash. The rash can be triggered by the environment, food or medicine, for example.
Parasites cause rash-like symptoms. These can be overgrown mites in bedding, fleas and bedbugs and scabies. Scabies can easily be mistaken for eczema without microscopic examination.
Eczema most commonly takes two forms. Congenital atopic eczema or contact eczema. In the first, the rash appears already in infancy on the face, in the throat and in the kneecap. In contact eczema, the itchy rash appears at the point of skin contact with the irritant.
Itchy rashes, with the exception of chickenpox and impetigo, are not infectious. Which diseases manifest an itchy rash and how does which disease develop and heal ?
