A rash of exanthems. How they affect children and pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
Viral exanthems are a common problem for children, particularly during preschool years. Many of these infections have a dramatic impact on siblings, parents and other contacts. There may also be particular ramifications for pregnant contacts.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss some of the most common viral exanthems affecting children, in terms of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and the management of both the patient and the contacts.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations are made for measles, rubella, parvovirus and varicella regarding immunisations, use of immunoglobulin, serological diagnosis and management of pregnant contacts.
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria. starrm@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
M
M
Starr
D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D016731:Erythema Infectiosum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012409:Rubella / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000276:immunology
D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined