A 9-year-old girl presents to the ED with the rash seen above. Which of the following is true regarding this condition?
Always appears in a dermatomal distribution
Firm stroking of the skin produces a wheal
Mucous membrane involvement is commonly seen
The rash is a mild form of Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Firm stroking of the skin produces a wheal
This is an urticarial rash (hives). Urticaria may occur from a variety of agents including foods (lobster, strawberry), drugs (penicillin, aspirin), infections (hepatitis, mononucleosis, coxsackie), change of temperature, and connective tissue disorders, to name a few. It can occur in isolation or as part of a systemic anaphylactic reaction.