BODY SIGNAL ALERT RASH: DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE MEDICAL PROBLEMS
The first thing you must know about skin rashes is that they cannot be diagnosed over the telephone; they need to be examined by a physician.
I’ve found that the way a patient describes the rash is almost never the way it appears, at least to my diagnostic eyes.
The causes of rashes run the gamut from a reaction to a new medication that you’ve just begun to take, such as penicillin, to a low blood platelet count (if a rash is bleeding). The latter is a condition that looks like a red rash or skin irritation when it first appears but can quickly start to ooze or bleed. The cause may be a viral or bacterial infection that causes a skin infection called cellulitis, or it may be recent exposure to a toxic chemical you’ve never handled before. And people who are highly emotional sometimes break out in rashes periodically. All of these conditions require medical attention, which is why it’s so important to see your doctor for proper treatment when you first notice the rash.
First, however, ask yourself the following questions, since your answers will help your physician to determine the diagnosis and the proper treatment for your rash:
1. Have I recently been exposed to a chemical or a new medication?
2. Does the rash itch?
3. Is the rash flat, diffused, or pinpointed, confined to a certain area?
4. Where did the rash first appear?
5. Is it localized, or does the rash appear all over my body?
6. Do I have a fever and/or chills?
7. Have I recently been exposed to a person who has a rash?
8. Has my skin recently been broken due to a trauma or a bite?
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