Question
Regarding the skin condition shown in the image,which of the following statement is false?
A. Scaling on most lesions
B. May be precipitated by a viral infection
C. Suggests underlying malignancy
D. Self limiting course
Show Answer
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Correct Answer » C Explanation |
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Ans:C. Suggests underlying malignancy.
The Skin condition shown in the image is Pityriasis Rosea.In the centre,a herald patch is seen and in the periphery Christmas tree like distribution of small rashes.
Pityriasis rosea
- It is a skin rash.
- It is self limiting,usually lasts around 6 – 8 weeks.
The symptoms of this condition include:
- An upper respiratory tract infection may precede symptoms
- The disease typically begins with a solitary patch, usually salmon-colored, that heralds the eruption and thus is commonly referred to as the herald patch or spot .This initial lesion enlarges over a few days to become a patch with a collarette of fine scale just inside the well-demarcated border.
- Within the next 1-2 weeks, a generalized exanthem usually appears.
- This secondary phase consists of bilateral and symmetric macules with a collarette scale oriented with their long axes along cleavage lines. The more numerous oval patches generally spread over the torso in a characteristic “christmas-tree” distribution.
- This phase tends to resolve over the next 6 weeks
- In 6% of cases an “inverse” distribution may occur, with rash mostly on the extremities. In children, presentation can be atypical or inverse, and the course is typically milder.
- Mild to severe symptomatic itching.
- The rash may be accompanied by low-grade fever, headache, nausea and fatigue.
Cause:
- Infectious:It has been suggested that the condition is precipitated by a viral agent. (HHV-7)
- Drugs:PR-like eruptions can also occur in association with many drugs (eg, acetylsalicylic acid, barbiturates, bismuth, captopril, clonidine, gold, imatinib, isotretinoin, ketotifen, levamisole, metronidazole, omeprazole, D-penicillamine, and terbinafine), as well as certain vaccines (eg, bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], human papilloma virus, and diphtheria)
Treatment:
- The condition usually resolves on its own, and treatment is not required.
- Oral antihistamines or topical steroids may be used to decrease itching
