title: Suspected viral maculopapular eruptions: an audit of practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consensus is lacking about investigations to be performed for viral eruptions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Audit of investigative practices for viral eruption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients hospitalized for viral eruption, divided into 2 groups: suspected viral infection (SV), with a clinical presentation suggesting a specific virus, and nonspecific suspected viral infection (NSV). Investigations of results and costs of virology tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 59 patients, 25 in the SV and 34 in the NSV group. Measles was suspected in 21/25 SV patients and confirmed in 20 (95%). The causal agent was confirmed in 6 NSV cases (17.6%), including 2 HIV infections. The median number of virology tests was 7 (1-14) and the median cost was EUR 144, with no significant differences between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Virology testing is useful when a putative virus is clinically suspected. HIV serology screening should be systematically performed.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baudoux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ingen-Housz-Oro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corneille
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sbidian
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valeyrie-Allanore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagot
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chosidow
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolkenstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014773:Virology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult