title: One-year review of pityriasis rosea at the National Skin Centre, Singapore.
abstract: Pityriasis rosea is a common, acute, self-limited papulosquamous eruption of possible viral aetiology. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of pityriasis rosea seen at a referral skin centre in Singapore. A retrospective chart review was conducted of all the patients with a diagnosis of pityriasis rosea seen during 1996. There were 368 patients; their ages ranged from 9 months to 82 years with a peak in the 20 to 29 years age group. There were slightly more males (1.2:1). The clinic incidence was 6.5 per 1000 cases. No ethnic predilection was noted and cases were seen evenly throughout the year. About a quarter of the patients gave a history of a viral infection shortly before or during the occurrence of the rash. Most cases had a typical truncal distribution. The herald patch was observed in 63 patients (17%). Inverse distribution involving mainly the extremities were seen in 22 cases (6%) and eczematised lesions were noted in 20 cases (5.4%). The two main differential diagnoses considered were tinea infection and secondary syphilis. A fungal scrape and a rapid plasma reagin test were done in 58 and 59 patients, respectively, and the results were negative. Treatment was symptomatic and consisted of topical steroids and antihistamines. Thirty patients (8%) were given oral prednisolone for extensive eruptions. The pattern of pityriasis rosea in Singapore is similar to that reported in other countries except for a male predominance and absence of monthly variation. A lower incidence and an older group of patients were also seen in our series as compared to African patients.
authors.affiliation: National Skin Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology