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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Red Rash on My Legs

milaria

A 23-year-old female with no known past medical history presented with a rash concentrated on her legs, with a few areas on her arms and chest. The rash began the day before presentation when she became overheated while wearing sweatpants in 104°F weather. The rash was mildly pruritic but not painful. She denied any prior reaction to her sweatpants that she has had for several months. She denied any new soap or cosmetic use, prior rash, allergy, or medication use. Her review of systems and past medical history were negative.

rash

Vitals: Normal

Skin: An erythematous papular rash is concentrated and symmetric on her lower extremities. There are a few sparse lesions on her arms, thorax, and abdomen with sparing of the palms, soles, and face. No pustules or vesicles are noted. There is no scale or crust. No other skin lesions are present. The rest of the examination is normal.

Non-contributory

Miliaria, or prickly heat (heat rash).

Miliaria, also known as prickly heat or heat rash, is caused by blocked eccrine sweat glands and ducts. Exposure to heat with sweating causes eccrine sweat to pass into the dermis or epidermis causing a rash. It is common in warm and humid climates during the summer months. It can affect up to 30% of adults living in hot and humid conditions. It may present as vesicles, papules, or pustules depending on the depth of the eccrine gland obstruction. In adults the rash is most likely seen where clothes rub on the skin. Infants and children typically have lesions on the upper trunk, neck, and head. Miliaria is a clinical diagnosis. Treatment involves measures to reduce sweating and exposure to hot and humid conditions. Air conditioning and the reduced humidity of indoor environments are helpful. If significant inflammation is present with pruritis, some improvement can be seen with 0.1% triamcinolone topically, though ointment should be avoided and only cream or lotion applied.

Take-Home Points

  • Miliaria, or prickly heat, is caused by sweating and blocked eccrine sweat glands.
  • Treatment involves retreating to cool, indoor environments.
  • Triamcinolone 0.1% cream or lotion may reduce pruritis.

  • Guerra KC, Toncar A, Krishnamurthy K. Miliaria. 2023 Aug 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 30725861.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-03-26T10:26:51-07:00Apr 1, 2024|Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Neonatal Rash

An 18-day-old male presented for a rash on his face for two days. The patient was born via spontaneous vaginal delivery full term without complications to a mom who has a history of genital HSV but without active lesions at delivery and on acyclovir. The patient presented with a vesicular rash on his face including around his eyes. He had conjunctival discharge noted by mom. Otherwise, he was well-appearing, acting normally, and eating/voiding/stooling normally.

 

neonatal rash

General: Well appearing, acting appropriately for age

HEENT: Scalp normal. Anterior fontanelle soft and flat. Vesicular appearing rash with erythematous base in clusters noted around eyes, cheek, and chin. Fluorescein staining with corneal abrasion noted at 4 o’clock region on right eye, no dendritic pattern. Scant yellow discharge noted from left eye. TM normal bilaterally. Oropharynx clear.

Neuro: Normal tone, moving all extremities

Skin: Flaky skin, no rash noted elsewhere except as listed above (Photos taken after fluorescein)

CBC: Normal

LFTs: Normal

BMP: Unremarkable

CRP: Negative

Lab results for HSV were negative:

HSV 1 and 2 (chin): negative

HSV 1 and 2 (near eye): negative

HSV 1 and 2 (nose, mouth, rectum): negative

HSV 1 blood Igg: negative

HSV 2 blood Igg: positive (reflective of maternal antibody status)

What was once called “neonatal acne” now known as neonatal cephalic pustulosis is usually seen in the first three weeks of life. Usually, it appears as pustulo-papules on the face, around the eyes, on the cheeks, and chin. Some studies have suggested that neonatal cephalic pustulosis is caused by Malassezia species. As the rash is self-limiting, treatment is not necessary.

Take-Home Points

  • When a vesicular rash is in a neonate < 1 month and all over the face, consider benign neonatal pustular lesions such as neonatal cephalic pustulosis.

  • Antoniou C, Dessinioti C, Stratigos AJ, Katsambas AD. Clinical and therapeutic approach to childhood acne: an update. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009 Jul-Aug;26(4):373-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2009.00932.x. PMID: 19689511.
  • Ghosh S. Neonatal pustular dermatosis: an overview. Indian J Dermatol. 2015 Mar-Apr;60(2):211. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.152558. PMID: 25814724; PMCID: PMC4372928.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-04-01T09:12:19-07:00Feb 26, 2024|Dermatology, Pediatrics, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Back Lesion

skin lesion

An 18-year-old-female with no known past medical history presented with a lesion on her back that had been present and enlarging for five months. It was not painful unless she touched it, and then only mildly tender. She denied any known cause, wound, prior rash, or other lesions. Her review of systems and past medical history were negative.

lesion

Vitals: Normal

Skin: An erythematous lenticular, or biconvex, lesion with distinct borders is noted at the left posterior thorax below the scapula. It is soft with some slight nodularity on palpation, and only mild tenderness noted. There is no fluctuance. No other skin lesions are present. The rest of the examination is normal.

Ultrasound reveals a 1.7 x 0.8 x 1.1 cm superficial soft tissue mass inferior to the scapula on the left thorax.

CT scan of the chest confirms no intrathoracic extension or other lesions.

Biopsy is the next appropriate step. The lesion does not appear to be infectious, either viral, bacterial, or fungal. Furthermore, it has no appearance of an inflammatory reaction that would benefit from topical steroids. The differential includes a cystic structure, neurofibroma, or malignancy. Because of the concern for malignancy, a biopsy was performed in the emergency department after the ultrasound and CT scan confirmed there was no extension into the thorax. The biopsy revealed a pilomatrixoma, or pilomatricoma. Pilomatrixoma is a superficial benign skin tumor that arises from hair follicle matrix cells. They commonly occur in the first two decades of life with a mean age of 17 years. The most common presentation is an asymptomatic, firm, slowly growing mobile nodule. However, only 16% are accurately diagnosed on clinical examination. This case reveals the wide variation in visual presentation and confirms the inability to diagnose the lesion at the bedside. Complete surgical excision is curative.

Take-Home Points

  • Unknown skin lesions, with concern for malignancy, should be diagnosed by biopsy.
  • Pilomatrixoma is rarely diagnosed at the bedside.

  • Jones CD, Ho W, Robertson BF, Gunn E, Morley S. Pilomatrixoma: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Am J Dermatopathol. 2018 Sep;40(9):631-641. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000001118. PMID: 30119102.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-01-28T21:32:23-08:00Feb 2, 2024|Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Fever with Rash

eschar

A 40-year-old male, tailor by occupation, was brought to the Emergency Department with complaints of high-grade fever for the past 11 days. Fever was documented to be 102°F and was not associated with any chills or rigors. The patient also complained of shortness of breath for one week associated with a dry cough, as well as an altered sensorium for one day. The patient during his hospital stay developed ARDS and was on mechanical ventilation for 20 days. He was then extubated and discharged after 27 days.

 

Skin: Multiple eschars on knee, foot, and lower chest.

Complete Blood Count: WBC 31,000; Plt 12,000

BUN: 215 mmol/L

Creatinine: 2.5 mmol/L

Liver Function Tests: AST 192 IU/L; ALP 591 IU/L

Blood PCR for Scrub Typhus was found to be positive.

Scrub typhus is often diagnosed clinically based on exposure to endemic regions and its characteristic eschar, which usually appears on the lower extremities, axillae, or genital region. [1,2] Still, diagnosis can be tricky, and similar eschars can be caused by spider bites, Mediterranean spotted fever, Queensland tick typhus, African tick-bite fever, and anthrax. [3] Scrub typhus is a potentially fatal mite-borne rickettsial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is endemic to the Asia–Pacific region, which has an estimated 1 million instances per year. Those affected may have headaches, myalgias, hearing loss, and rash, in addition to fever. Encephalitis, hepatitis, and pulmonary and cardiac involvement can occur. [1,2]

Early empiric treatment with Doxycycline is life-saving.

Take-Home Points

  • Consider Scrub Typhus in a patient presenting with eschars.
  • Early empiric treatment with Doxycycline is life-saving.

  • Botelho-Nevers E, Raoult D. Fever of unknown origin due to rickettsioses. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;21(4):997-1011, ix. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2007.08.002. PMID: 18061086.
  • Hendershot EF, Sexton DJ. Scrub typhus and rickettsial diseases in international travelers: a review. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2009 Jan;11(1):66-72. doi: 10.1007/s11908-009-0010-x. PMID: 19094827.
  • Shiao CC, Lin SY. Eschar: a clue to scrub typhus. CMAJ. 2011 Oct 18;183(15):E1152. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.101929. Epub 2011 Sep 12. PMID: 21911554; PMCID: PMC3193135.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-04-01T09:12:35-07:00Jan 22, 2024|Dermatology, Infectious Disease, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Post-Vaccination Rash

hypersensitivity

A 42-year old Bengali man with a history of hyperlipidemia presented to the Emergency Department with facial swelling, diffuse rash, renal insufficiency and proteinuria after receiving his COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna) booster dose. There were no adverse events with the first two doses of the vaccine except for mild transient sore throat and cough after the 2nd dose. Within a few hours after the booster dose, the patient noted a pruritic rash initially on his scalp, that then spread to his torso associated with facial swelling, fever, and chills. He presented to his primary care physician three days later. At that time, laboratory workup showed proteinuria, elevated C-reactive protein (65.2), and an elevated serum creatinine (2.84 mg/dl). He was advised to go to the Emergency Department.

General: He was in no distress; his vital signs were normal.

Skin: While the facial swelling had improved, the rash had progressed to involve the entire body. There were multiple skin lesions with raised borders, and central clearing (Figures 1 and 2); no mucosal involvement was noted.

The rest of his physical exam including lung, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and neurological examinations were normal.

Laboratory workup in the ED revealed resolution of proteinuria with serum creatinine returning to normal baseline value (0.89 mg/dl).

The patient’s rash is a classic erythema multiforme (EM) rash. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is a lipid nano particle-encapsulated, nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that encodes the perfusion spike glycoprotein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Local reactions include mild to moderate pain at the injection site, and systemic effects including fatigue, fever, and headache, commonly appearing within 2-5 days after the second dose. Erythema multiforme has been reported as a cutaneous reaction after the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. As per the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to date, there have been 284 reported cases of EM after the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and 500 cases reported after the Pfizer vaccine. The exact pathogenesis of EM after the vaccine is unclear. This delayed hypersensitivity reaction is likely from sensitization to a vaccine component. It appears to be a T-cell mediated response making CD4+ helper T-1 cells, release of gamma-interferon, and then recruitment of auto-reactive T-cells. It should be differentiated from immediate IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions such as flushing, urticaria, angioedema, and hypotension that usually appear within minutes of administering the vaccine.

While immediate hypersensitivity is a contraindication for further doses, erythema multiforme and other such delayed manifestations should not discourage the use of additional COVID-19 mRNA doses if appropriate.

Take-Home Points

  • Erythema multiforme is a delayed hypersensitive reaction that may occur after COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
  • This type of delayed hypersensitivity reaction, likely from sensitization to vaccine component, is not a contraindication to further COVID-19 boosters.

  • Su JR, Haber P, Ng CS, Marquez PL, Dores GM, Perez-Vilar S, Cano MV. Erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis reported after vaccination, 1999-2017. Vaccine. 2020 Feb 11;38(7):1746-1752. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.028. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870573; PMCID: PMC7008074.
  • Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System [Internet]. CDC. 2022. Available from: https://vaers.hhs.gov/data.html.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-04-01T09:12:50-07:00Jan 12, 2024|Allergy-Immunology, Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: A Lethal Combination of Skin and Lung Findings

dermatomyositis

A 49-year-old female with a past medical history of recurrent diverticulitis initially presented with one month of shortness of breath and a minor nonproductive cough for which she was started on doxycycline by her primary care provider. She then developed a rash on her chest, upper back, and face. Antibiotics were switched to amoxicillin and azithromycin. She underwent a brief admission of six days for shortness of breath but did not have an oxygen requirement at that time. She was evaluated by pulmonology (evaluated for cocci, unknown results), and then discharged. She then presented again to the ED with two weeks of worsening shortness of breath, intermittent fevers (Tmax 101°F), nausea/vomiting, fatigue, and arthralgias.

 

Vitals: BP 100/66; HR 128; Temp 37.2 °C (99 °F); Resp 44; SpO2 84%; BMI 28.25 kg/m2; Wt 79.4 kg (175 lb); Ht 1.676 m (5′ 6″)

General: NAD

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, no m/r/g

Lungs: Coarse breath sounds at bases bilaterally, tachypneic

Abdomen: Soft, non-distended

Skin: Heliotrope rash to face (violaceous, erythematous rash to eyelids and nasolabial fold), shawl sign (erythematous patches to chest and upper back), shallow ulcers to tongue and lower inner lip, tender papules involving palms and lateral fingers bilaterally, and faint erythema of proximal nail fold

White blood cell (WBC) count: No leukocytosis

ESR: Elevated

LDH: Elevated

CK: Within normal limits

CXR: Bilateral infiltrates

CTPE: Negative for PE, but with scattered areas of ground glass and consolidative opacities throughout both lungs.

If emergency medicine physicians consider MDA5 Dermatomyositis (MDA5 DM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) on their differential for patients presenting with skin and pulmonary symptoms, this can result in more rapid diagnosis and aggressive treatment.

This patient was admitted requiring 40 L HFNC, then two days later required intubation for severe ARDS and was placed on VV-ECMO the same day. Her hospital course was complicated by tachyarrhythmias requiring cardioversion, and Takostubo physiology. She was found to be MDA-5 antibody positive and ultimately expired while waiting for a lung transplant.

Take-Home Points

  • Critical actions in approaching ED patients with dermatological physical exam findings (even in the absence of known rheumatological history) with progressive pulmonary symptoms should include early consideration of dermatomyositis, serologic testing, early rheumatology and pulmonology consults, and early consideration of ECMO as a bridge to response to immunotherapy or lung transplant
  • Beginning these critical actions with first patient contact in the ED will only help improve patient outcomes throughout hospitalization.

  • Huang K, Levy RD, Avina-Zubieta JA. Successful lung transplant in rapid progressive interstitial lung disease associated with anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Aug 1;59(8):2161-2163. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa032. PMID: 32068868.
  • Koga T, Fujikawa K, Horai Y, Okada A, Kawashiri SY, Iwamoto N, Suzuki T, Nakashima Y, Tamai M, Arima K, Yamasaki S, Nakamura H, Origuchi T, Hamaguchi Y, Fujimoto M, Ishimatsu Y, Mukae H, Kuwana M, Kohno S, Eguchi K, Aoyagi K, Kawakami A. The diagnostic utility of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody testing for predicting the prognosis of Japanese patients with DM. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012 Jul;51(7):1278-84. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker518. Epub 2012 Feb 29. PMID: 22378718.
  • Moghadam-Kia S, Oddis CV, Sato S, Kuwana M, Aggarwal R. Anti-Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 Is Associated With Rapidly Progressive Lung Disease and Poor Survival in US Patients With Amyopathic and Myopathic Dermatomyositis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016 May;68(5):689-94. doi: 10.1002/acr.22728. PMID: 26414240; PMCID: PMC4864500.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2024-01-07T21:13:36-08:00Jan 8, 2024|Dermatology, Pulmonary, Rheumatology, SAEM Clinical Images|
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SAEM Clinical Images Series: Rapidly Spreading Rash

DRESS

A 19-year-old female with a past medical history of epilepsy presented to the emergency department for evaluation of rash and fever. Two days prior to presentation she began to experience fevers with a Tmax of 103°F. One day before presentation she developed a rash that began on her face and slowly spread down her body, now involving her palms. The patient endorsed associated pruritus and cervical lymphadenopathy with the rash. The patient specifically denied mucous membrane involvement (mouth, eyes, genitalia), vomiting, diarrhea, dysuria, hematuria, neck stiffness, cough, dyspnea, chest pain, or exposure to ticks or exotic animals. Of note, she reported that her dose of lamotrigine has been slowly uptitrated, most recently two days prior changing from 50 mg BID to 75 mg BID.

rash

Vitals: T 39.6°C; HR 140; BP 102/66; RR 15; O2 sat 97% on RA

General: Alert and oriented, well-developed female in no acute distress

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, regular rhythm

HEENT: Bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy; facial edema; conjunctiva clear; oral mucous membranes clear

Skin: Deeply erythematous/papules coalescing into plaques diffusely on the face, trunk, extremities; no pustules, purpura, or vesicles/bullae noted; no scales or desquamation

Complete Blood Count (CBC): WBC 9.84 (eosinophils 7%), Platelets 144

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): 180

ALT: 378

AST: 228

C-reactive protein (CRP): 91

Urine protein: 11 mg/dL

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. DRESS syndrome is an idiosyncratic, potentially fatal, adverse drug reaction to anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, antivirals, or allopurinol with a multifactorial pathogenesis. It has a delayed onset, typically within 2-8 weeks, after drug initiation. Clinical presentation can be diverse but is usually characterized by a diffuse skin rash, fever, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and internal organ involvement (most commonly the liver). Incidence ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 with a mortality rate that can be as high as 10%, and is commonly related to fulminant hepatitis. Diagnosis can be extremely challenging due to the variability in clinical presentation. The regiSCAR diagnostic criteria is the most used diagnostic criteria and is based on a scoring system for possible, probable, or definite diagnosis.

Immediate discontinuation of the offending medication is critical. Symptoms may continue for several weeks after withdrawal of the inciting agent. The mainstay of treatment is systemic corticosteroids with tapering over a long period. Other immunosuppressants may be used in refractory cases. If DRESS syndrome occurs in the setting of an aromatic anticonvulsant, the patient should not be started on any other aromatic anticonvulsants due to their cross-reactivity.

Take-Home Points

  • DRESS syndrome is a severe, possible life-threatening adverse drug reaction that is frequently overlooked and missed because of its variable clinical presentation. Increasing familiarity with its clinical presentation is of utmost importance for recognition and treatment.
  • The inciting agent (aromatic anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, allopurinol, etc.) should be stopped immediately and should not be restarted at any time. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment with gradual tapering over multiple months.

  • Cho YT, Yang CW, Chu CY. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): An Interplay among Drugs, Viruses, and Immune System. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jun 9;18(6):1243. doi: 10.3390/ijms18061243. PMID: 28598363; PMCID: PMC5486066.
  • Choudhary S, McLeod M, Torchia D, Romanelli P. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Jun;6(6):31-7. PMID: 23882307; PMCID: PMC3718748.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By |2023-12-15T09:19:09-08:00Dec 18, 2023|Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images|
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