TREATMENTS &
RESEARCH
latest
treatment
information
here.
Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
Symptom: Rash
- Introduction: Rash
- Causes (559 conditions)
- Causes of Types
- Diagnosis Checklist (25 listings)
- Misdiagnosis
- Diagnostic Guides (Online)
- Diagnostic tests (18 listings)
- Multiple Symptom Checker
- Drug causes (2667 listings)
- Drug interaction causes (352 listings)
- Videos
- Definitions
- Choose Doctor
- Classifications
- News (32 listings)
- Stories from Users
Introduction: Rash
Further information about Rash is below, or review more specific information about these types of Rash: itchy rash, eczema, hives, hemorrhagic rash, leg rash, face rash, underarm rash, red spots or other types.
There are many possible causes of a rash and any rash needs prompt investigation by a doctor or a dermatologist. Rashes can be caused by illnesses such as viruses (e.g chicken pox) or systemic conditions (e.g. lupus), by allergies such as hives or eczema, parasites like lice in scabies, by reactions to chemicals, and by numerous other causes. One of the most feared but less common rashes is that caused by meningococcal disease, which is a characteristic hemorrhagic rash, caused by bleeding of capillaries just under the skin (see hemorrhagic rash for more details). Any type of hemorrhagic rash is a medical emergency.
» Review Causes of Rash: full list
Causes of Rash:
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Rash.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
- Blisters - see the causes of a blistering rash
- Scaling - see the causes of a scaly rash
- Scabbing - see the causes of a scabbing blister rash
- Hemorrhagic rash - see the causes of a hemorrhagic rash
- Allergic conditions
- Allergies - see various types of allergies
- Hives
- Eczema
- Contact dermatitis
- Food allergies
- Egg allergy
- Peanut allergy
- Wheat allergy
- Milk allergy (type of Food allergies)
- Soybean allergy
- Fish allergy (type of Food allergies)
- Poison ivy
- Latex allergy
- Infections
- Impetigo
- Chicken pox
- Measles
- Fungal infections
- Athlete's foot
- Meningococcal disease - causes a characteristic hemorrhagic rash
- Parasitic conditions
- Systemic conditions
See full list of 559 causes of Rash
» Review Causes of Rash: full list
Causes of Types of Rash:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Rash:
- Itchy rash (36 causes)
- Eczema (29 causes)
- Hives (101 causes)
- Hemorrhagic rash (7 causes)
- Leg rash (10 causes)
- Face rash (1 cause)
- Underarm rash (22 causes)
- Red spots (46 causes)
- Spots (140 causes)
- Red rash (5 causes)
- Sunburn (1 cause)
- Neck rash (21 causes)
- Allergic rash (1 cause)
- Allergic dermatitis (1 cause)
- Dermatitis (22 causes)
- Dermatitis herpetiformis (1 cause)
- Maculopapular rash (32 causes)
- Butterfly rash (26 causes)
- Skin eruptions (11 causes)
- Skin spots (23 causes)
See full list of 195 types for Rash
Rash: Multiple Symptom Checker
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Rash, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms
Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations
- Rash and Skin symptoms (342 causes)
- Rash and Skin problems (245 causes)
- Rash and Nerve symptoms (236 causes)
- Rash and Pain (236 causes)
- Rash and Sensations (232 causes)
- Rash and Head symptoms (215 causes)
- Rash and Fever (187 causes)
- Rash and Temperature symptoms (183 causes)
- Rash and Swelling symptoms (179 causes)
- Rash and Digestive symptoms (176 causes)
- Rash and Muscle symptoms (151 causes)
- Rash and Muscle weakness (143 causes)
- Rash and Respiratory symptoms (138 causes)
- Rash and Face symptoms (134 causes)
- Rash and Fatigue (134 causes)
- Rash and Abdominal symptoms (126 causes)
- Rash and Eye symptoms (117 causes)
- Rash and Joint symptoms (111 causes)
- Rash and Liver symptoms (110 causes)
- Rash and Liver problems (109 causes)
See full list of 2603 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Rash
Causes of General Symptom Types
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
- Skin symptoms (1824 causes)
- Skin problems (1673 causes)
Causes of Similar Symptoms to Rash
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Rash:
- Skin itch (808 causes)
- Leg rash (10 causes)
- Arm rash (28 causes)
- Genital rash (24 causes)
- Tingling (367 causes)
- Paresthesias (209 causes)
- Toe rash (18 causes)
- Foot rash (18 causes)
- Skin ulcers (69 causes)
- Acne (44 causes)
- Hemorrhagic rash (7 causes)
Diagnostic Guides for Rash
Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Rash from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Rash. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Rash
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
- [ read ]
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
- [ read ]
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
- [ read ]
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
- [ read ]
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
- [ read ]
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Misdiagnosis and Rash
Poorly healing leg rashes a classic sign of chronic disease: Recurring leg rashes, or poorly healing leg rashes, are a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes, particularly of Type 2 diabetes,...read more »
Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is rare in children, and not often seen by physicians for this...read more »
Dermatomyositis in breast cancer: Dermatomyositis is a serious connective-tissue disease related to polymyositis that is characterized by...read more »
Rash of Dengue can be misdiagnosed: Dengue fever also known as 'breakbone fever' is a mosquito borne viral infection. The most common clinical presentation is that of severe headache, eye pain,...read more »
Toxic shock syndrome in women: Toxic shock syndrome is a toxin mediated multisysyem disease precipitated by infection with staphylococcus aureus or either group A streptococcus. It commonly occurs in women who use...read more »
Painful throat- look for infectious mononucleosis: Infectious mononucleosis must be considered in 15- 25 year old patients presenting with a painful throat. The patient presents with slow...read more »
Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis non specific presentation: Cryptogenic fibrosing alveoloitis is a chronic lung disease occurring due to the inflammation of the alveoli. The...read more »
Kawasaki's disease can be misdiagnosed as common childhood ailments: Kawasaki’s disease is a febrile disorder affecting children below 5 years. It affects mainly the blood...read more »
Sunburn or general photosensitivity?: Sunburn is normally caused by UV-B radiation which penetrates the epidermis and the superficial dermis which release substances such as leucotrienes and...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Rash
Diagnostic tests for Rash:
Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Rash. Some of these are listed below :
- Skin examination
- Physical examination
- Note characteristics of skin rash - e.g. macular, papular, pustular, vesicular, bullous, scaly, ulcers - will help determine the cause of the rash (e.g. a macular or papular rash may suggest eczema, contact dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, pityriasis rosea or a drug reaction; a pustular rash may suggest staphylococcus, scabies or a fungal skin infection; a vesicular or bullous rash may suggest chicken pox, dermatitis herpetiformis, contact dermatitis, pemphigus, bullous impetigo or nummular eczema; a scaly rash may suggest ichthyosis, psoriasis, lichen planus, fungal skin infection, exfoliative dermatitis or a drug eruption; an ulcerative rash may suggest a basal cell carcinoma).
- Note distribution of the skin affected - e.g. focal or diffuse (e.g. focal rash may suggest fungal skin infection, scabies, contact dermatitis, skin tumor, nummular eczema or impetigo; diffuse rash may suggest psoriasis, lichen planus, eczema, drug eruptions, dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus, pityriasis rosea or tinea versicolor.
- What areas of the body does it primarily involve - e.g. extremities, face, trunk? - will help determine the cause (e.g. extremities may suggest atopic dermatitis, tinea, psoriasis or insect bites; typical lower leg rashes include keratitis pilaris, erythema nodosum, nummular dermatitis, stress dermatitis, necrobiosis lipoidica; typical rashes on the front of the knees include psoriasis and dermatitis herpetiformis).
See full list of 18
diagnostic tests for Rash
Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Rash. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had the rash? - to determine if acute or chronic.
- Where is the rash and where did it start?
- Contact with anyone that also has had a rash? - e.g. may suggest scabies, chicken pox, impetigo, meningococcal disease.
- Past history of skin disorders? - e.g. atopic dermatitis (eczema), hives, scabies, dermatitis herpetiformis, asteatosis (dry skin).
- Have you worn any new clothing recently? - may provide information concerning contact dermatitis.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Rash (25 listings)
Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Rash) may include:
- Fever? - may suggest chicken pox, serum sickness, eczema herpeticum, exfoliative dermatitis, severe allergic contact dermatitis from poison ivy.
- Itch, and if so is the itch mild, moderate or severe? - e.g. a very itchy rash may suggest hives, atopic dermatitis, scabies, skin lice, insect bites, chicken pox, dermatitis herpetiformis; a mild to moderate itchy rash may suggest tinea, psoriasis, drug eruption, pityriasis rosea, candida or lichen simplex.
- Nails affected? - may suggest psoriasis or tinea.
- Butterfly shaped facial rash? - suggests systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Symptoms of atopic dermatitis (eczema)? - e.g. itchy, red, dry, scaling, cracked skin. The typical distribution changes as the person grows older. In infants the rash is usually on the cheeks of the face, the folds of the neck and scalp. It may then spread to the limbs and groin. During childhood a drier ad thicker rash develops in front of the elbow, behind the knees and on the hands and feet, which may be dry, itchy, cracked and painful. Rarely does eczema have an adult onset.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Rash (25 listings)
Stories from Users for Rash
Real-life user stories relating to Rash:
- Itchy red bumps all over body? Hives?
- Strange skin rash - Please help!
- Looks like depression, but it's not
- Dust Mite Bites-look like mosquito bites!
- Girlfriend gone bonkers?
- Red, itching bumps and spots on base of hairs spreading up my body.
- Red spots on body
- Why Not Look At It Differently ?
- Skin Rash
- Skin Rash
- Frequent itching of skin (like mosquito bites/pricking sensation...)
- Red flushed hands.
- bites, purple dots and spreading, What is it??
- Anyone know about RED HANDS
- skin rash
- I've this skin rash for years, can anyone help?
- Bier Spots ?
- Does this look like Molluscum? Please help!
- Full Body Rash
- How long does it take for the mods to look over posts?
Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Rash or relevant symptoms:
Videos for Rash
What Is Eczema?
Millions of people suffer from the skin condition eczema marked by red, itchy patches that sometime become infected. Listen to experts talk about the...
Everyday Management of Eczema
Eczema may not be a life-threatening condition, but it is life altering. Learn how people can manage eczema by avoiding triggers and treating...
Treatments for Eczema
Alleviating the symptoms of eczema is important for people who suffer with this skin condition. Steroid therapies have been a great help, but their...
Treatments Eczema
There are a variety of different treatments that can help control eczema. The therapies can come as creams, ointments or even as pills. However, not...
Patient Surveys for Rash
- Patient Profile Survey
Take Survey View Results - Survey about diseases related to your Rash
Take Survey View Results
Causes of Rash listed in Disease Database:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible
causes of Rash as a symptom include:
- 5-Azacytidine
- Abacavir
- Acetylcysteine
- Acipimox
- Albendazole
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Allopurinol
- Altretamine
- Amiloride
- Aminoglutethimide
- Amiodarone
- Amoxycillin
- Amphotericin B
- Ampicillin
- Amprenavir
- Asymmetric periflexural exanthem of childhood
- Bartonellosis
- Benzyl benzoate
- Bezafibrate
- Biotinidase deficiency
See full list of 559
causes of Rash
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medications or substances causing Rash:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Rash as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Dextrothyroxine Sodium
- Choloxine
- Daunorubicin Hydrochloride
- Cerubidine
- Rubilem
See full list of 2667
medications causing Rash
Drug interactions causing Rash:
When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Rash as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Amoxil and allopurinol interaction
- Larotid and allopurinol interaction
- Trimox and allopurinol interaction
- Wymox and allopurinol interaction
- Augmentin and allopurinol interaction
See full list of 352 drug interactions causing Rash
Definitions of Rash:
Rash: Avoid the redundant phrase skin rash. Colloquial term for a cutaneous eruption. [O. Fr. rasche, skin eruption, fr. L. rado, pp. rasus, to scratch, scrape]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Diseases in which skin eruptions or rashes are a prominent manifestation. Classically, six such diseases were described with similar rashes; they were numbered in the order in which they were reported. Only the fourth (Duke's disease), fifth (ERYTHEMA INFECTIOSUM), and sixth (EXANTHEMA SUBITUM) numeric designations survive as occasional synonyms in current terminology.
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Any red eruption of the skin
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Organs affected by Rash:
The list of organs typically affected by Rash may include, but is not limited to:
Detailed list of causes of Rash
The list below shows some of the causes of Rash mentioned in various sources:
- anal itch
- genital itch
- vulval itch
- 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate sensitization - allergic skin reaction
- 5-Azacytidine
See full list of 559 causes of Rash
How Common are these Causes of Rash?
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Rash. Of the 559 causes of Rash that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
- 13 causes are "very common" diseases
- 10 causes are "common" diseases
- 5 causes are "uncommon" diseases
- 3 causes are "rare" diseases
- 41 causes are "very rare" diseases
- 504 causes have no prevalence information.
See the analysis of the prevalence of 559
causes of Rash
Conditions listing symptoms: Rash:
The following list of conditions have 'Rash' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Symbols
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Conditions listing complications: Rash:
The following list of conditions have 'Rash' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
A
K
L
S
U
V
Y
Join in at the forums
Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.
Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.
Causes of Rash Based on Risk Factors
This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Rash based
on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:
Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Rash?
Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Rash, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :
- General practitioner
- Emergency physician
- Dermatologist
What are the alternative names for Rash:
Cutaneous eruption, Dermatosis, Exanthema, Nonspecific skin eruption, Skin lesions (miscellaneous), Skin rash, Spots
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Classifications of Rash:
Subtypes of Rash:
Itchy rash (17 causes), Eczema (28 causes), Hives (36 causes), Hemorrhagic rash (3 causes),