Is pityriasis rosea an infectious disease?

Study of role of streptococcal throat infection in pityriasis rosea

Background:

Pityriasis rosea is a common, acute exanthem of uncertain etiology. The exact cause of pityriasis rosea is not known but various hypotheses have been postulated incriminating infective agents such as viruses, bacteria, spirochete and noninfective etiologies such as atopy and autoimmune causes have also been investigated.

Aim:

We undertook a study to investigate the role of Streptococcus haemolyticus in the causation of pityriasis rosea and study the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ASLO titer in patients with pityriasis rosea.

Materials and Methods:

The study included 20 patients with pityriasis rosea attending the outpatient dermatology department at JIPMER hospital during the period from June to December 2004. Corresponding number of age- and sex-matched controls were chosen from amongst healthy individuals and patients attending skin OPD with dermatological disorders other than pityriasis rosea.

Results:

On analyzing the data collected from 20 cases of pityriasis rosea, the average age was found to be 15.3 years and ranged from 5 years to 30 years. The male to female ratio was found to be 1.5:1. The average duration of illness was 14.5 days (median) and 29.3 days (mean). CRP was negative in all the cases as well as the controls. ASLO titer was found to be raised in 2 (10%) cases, while it remained below the critical value in all the controls. On comparing the cases and controls, the raised ASLO titer in the cases was found to be not statistically significant (p = 0.147). From the throat swab culture, Streptococcus haemolyticus was isolated from only one case and none of the controls. This finding was not statistically significant (p = 0.310).

Conclusion:

As per the findings of the present study, we arrived at conclusion that there is no association between streptococcus pharyngitis and pityriasis rosea.

Pityriasis rosea. Appearance and distribution of macules aid diagnosis

A 40-year-old man presented with a 1-week history of a diffuse pruritic rash. The patient denied having had fever, chills, or a recent respiratory infection. He could not recall having an initial patch. Physical examination revealed numerous small, scaly patches on his trunk (figure 1). The rash spared the palms of his hands and soles of his feet as well as the distal extremities.

Pityriasis rosea-like eruption after bone marrow transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation is associated with numerous cutaneous complications that may be related to the underlying (preexisting) disease, to pretransplant conditioning, to immunosuppression, to concomitant medication, or to graft-versus-host reaction. We describe four bone marrow transplant recipients with the clinical and histologic features of pityriasis rosea, a hitherto unreported association.

Annular skin eruptions

Preview Skin eruptions often occur in annular patterns. Fungal infections are one of the most common causes of ring-shaped eruptions, but annular patterns form in many other skin conditions as well. Dr Bart describes, illustrates, and discusses the causes and treatments of 24 disorders that can result in rings on the skin.

Pityriasis rosea update: 1986

Pityriasis rosea is a common self-limited dermatologic disorder. It appears to be a nonspecific cutaneous reaction pattern with a large number of causes. Current evidence indicates that a cell-mediated immune mechanism may be important in its pathogenesis.

Papulosquamous diseases: a review

Papulosquamous diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose etiology primarily is unknown. The nosology of these disorders is based on a descriptive morphology of clinical lesions characterized by scaly papules and plaques. The major entities in this group include psoriasis, parapsoriasis (including pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta), lichen planus, lichen nitidus, lichen striatus, pityriasis rosea, pityriasis rubra pilaris, seborrheic dermatitis, and the Gianotti-Crosti syndrome. Many other conditions may become papulosquamous and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Recent upper respiratory tract infection and pityriasis rosea: a case-control study of 249 matched pairs

A sample of 249 patients was drawn from an original population of 939 patients with pityriasis rosea identified in an earlier population-based study of pityriasis rosea in Rochester, Minnesota. A control was selected for each case, matched for age, sex, and year of diagnosis. Comparison was made with regard to recent immunization, history of atopy, and recent infection. A statistically significant number of patients had experienced recent upper respiratory tract infection (P less than 0.005). The association between recent infection and pityriasis rosea is discussed.

Case clustering in pityriasis rosea: support for role of an infective agent

One hundred and twenty-six cases of pityriasis rosea seen over two years in north Staffordshire were analysed for clustering in time and space. A statistically significant degree of clustering was found; this was evident among female patients considered separately but not among male patients. The incidence of the condition was higher in patients working in, or attending, educational establishments. These findings support the hypothesis that pityriasis rosea is caused by an infective agent. A search for an infective organism and a transmission mechanism now seems justifiable.