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LETTER TO EDITOR
Year : 2022 | Volume
: 23
| Issue : 3 | Page : 254-255
Spared Island of normal-looking skin is not a monopoly of dengue rash
Sandipan Dhar1, Shikhar Ganjoo2, Jaydeep Choudhury3
1 Department of Paediatric Dermatology, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 Department of Dermatology, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary Medical College and Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India
3 Department of Pediatric Medicine, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Correspondence Address:
Shikhar Ganjoo
Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary Medical College and Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana
India
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
CheckDOI: 10.4103/ijpd.ijpd_87_21
Sir,
A 3-year-old girl presented with clinical features suggestive of toxemia and diffuse widespread rash with areas of normal looking skin. On investigation, she was found to be negative for dengue nonstructural protein (NS1) antigen and immunoglobulin M (IgM) serology and had a positive blood culture for Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Streptococcus is well known to cause exanthems in children. Maculopapular rash is the most common exanthem and these are mostly exotoxin mediated. Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) and Streptococcus pyogenes are the most common organisms involved. Diffuse widespread rash with islands of sparing is considered to be characteristic of dengue fever. We report a child with streptococcal toxemia and diffuse rash with islands of normal looking skin.
A 3-year-old girl born to nonconsanguineous parents presented with a 10-day history of high-grade fever associated with rigors, chills, vomiting, and myalgias. The child had an incomplete vaccination history. There was no history of drug intake before presentation. On examination, diffuse widespread maculopapular rash was present for the past 5 days which rapidly spread to involve both the upper, lower extremity and trunk with particularly conspicuous islands of sparing of normal looking skin [Figure 1a and b]. The rash was bilaterally symmetrical and nonblanchable. There was glazed erythema over both palms and soles and a relative sparing of face and mucosa [Figure 2]. Other systemic examination was normal. Investigations revealed an elevated white blood cell count (16,430/mm3) with absolute neutrophil count (10,620/mm3), elevated C-reactive protein, and moderate elevation of hepatic transaminases. Other laboratory tests and radiological examination including urea, creatinine, creatine kinase, and chest X ray were found to be normal. The child tested negative for IgM antibodies and NS1 to dengue virus. Blood culture revealed S. pneumoniae which confirmed the diagnosis of streptococcal pneumonia septicemia. The child received intravenous ceftriaxone for 10 days. Upon treatment, fever resolved by the 7th day while skin rash subsided by the 10th day.
Figure 1: (a) Diffuse maculopapular rash present over the trunk with particularly conspicuous islands of sparing of normal looking skin. (b) Widespread maculopapular rash present over both the upper, lower extremity and trunk
Figure 2: Rash present over the lower extremities with glazed erythema of the solesExanthems due to streptococcus are a well-known entity. Fine, erythematous maculopapular eruption involving the trunk and extremities is caused by streptococcal exogenic pyrotoxin which is produced by GABHS. It is classically considered to have a sandpaper appearance and resolves with thick sheets of desquamation, especially prominent over the palms and soles. Oral mucosa can be involved presenting as white strawberry tongue.[1] Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by S. pyogenes is mediated by scarlet fever toxin A. It presents as widespread macular erythema and scarlatiniform rash along with multisystem organ failure.[2] The association of streptococcal pharyngitis with guttate psoriasis is also well known which can be triggered by perianal streptococcal infection.[3],[4]
Island of normal looking skin classically known as white islands in a sea of red is typically seen in recovery stage of dengue and one can successfully predict the platelet recovery looking at this type of rash.[5] To the best of our knowledge, there is no report of a rash with island of sparing caused by streptococcal septicemia as such a presentation was considered to be a unique feature of dengue fever. In our case, the patient presented with multiple areas of normal looking skin in between the streptococcal toxemic maculopapular rash which is a rare phenomenon.
Declaration of consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate consent forms, duly signed by the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the patient. In the form, the parent(s)/guardian(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for the images and other clinical information of their child to be reported in the journal. The parents understand that the names and initials of their child/children will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References
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