title: A syndromic rash in patients attending methadone clinics in New South Wales.
abstract: We report an outbreak of a "rash" syndrome in patients attending methadone clinics in New South Wales. It presents with a pruritic, exanthematous or purpuric rash involving the trunk, limbs, palms and soles, which develops over a week and proceeds in most patients to desquamation (mainly of palms and soles) persisting for 3-4 weeks. Mucosae are not involved, and patients are generally systemically well. To date, the rash has affected 22% of 316 patients attending one methadone clinic in western Sydney, as well as patients in clinics elsewhere in Sydney and rural NSW. The aetiology is as yet unknown.
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Services, Western Sydney Area Health Service, PO Box 533, Wentworthville, NSW 2145, Australia. jon_currie@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Jon N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Lucinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wallman
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Snell
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cluff
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scrivener
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005076:Exanthema / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone