A maculopapular rash usually occurs at a large area on the body, and is usually red and has small, confluent bumps. The sandpapery rash of scarlet fever, or scarletina, is the classic example of a maculopapular rash. The most distinctive feature of the rash is the pattern of macules or a small, flat, red area of discoloration, and papules, a small, raised lesion.
A maculopapular rash is a marker for many diseases. Most of the time, the cause is viral infection and depending on the severity of the rash, it could indicate serious medical concerns. Ordinarily, a maculopapuar rash looks like red bumps on a flat, red patch of skin.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Itching
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Trouble breathing
- Dry skin
Since maculopapular rashes are most common in infections and body immune responses, more than one symptom may appear.
Causes
- Drug reaction
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Allergies
- Our body’s own systematic inflammation
Any allergy to a drug may be the cause if the rash develops 4 to 12 days after taking medication. But the rashes generally fade after a week or two. Be sure to consult your doctor in case it reappears.
Causes from viral infection:
- Measles
- EBV infection
- Scarlet fever
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
- Herpes
- Zika
- Hepatitis B or C infection
- Ebola
- HIV
It’s best to see a doctor in case you get a maculopapular rash. Diagnosis can be difficult because there are many possible causes for the rash.