eMedicine Specialties > Emergency Medicine > Dermatology

Pityriasis Rosea: Follow-up

Author: Richard Lichenstein, MD, Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research, Associate Professor, University of Maryland Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 27, 2008

Follow-up

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • A mild topical steroid or an emollient with 0.25% menthol may relieve the itching.
  • Oral antipruritics may be helpful.
  • Ultraviolet B therapy may be used to hasten resolution of the rash.5
  • Oral erythromycin has been used with success in one study in patients with pityriasis rosea who were older than 2 years.3
  • Acyclovir may hasten resolution if given within 1 week of illness.6

Prognosis

  • The prognosis of PR is excellent.
  • Fewer than 3% of affected individuals experience recurrences.

Patient Education

  • The long duration of PR must be explained to patients and their families.
  • The secondary rash develops over 2 weeks, persists for another 2 weeks, and then fades over another 2 weeks.
  • Some lesions have persisted for as long as 3-4 months.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Other treatable conditions (eg, syphilis) may be missed if not considered.
 


More on Pityriasis Rosea

Overview: Pityriasis Rosea
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Pityriasis Rosea
Treatment & Medication: Pityriasis Rosea
Follow-up: Pityriasis Rosea
References
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References

  1. Amer A, Fischer H, Li X. The natural history of pityriasis rosea in black American children: how correct is the "classic" description?. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. May 2007;161(5):503-6. [Medline].

  2. Drago F, Ranieri E, Malaguti F. Human herpesvirus 7 in patients with pityriasis rosea. Electron microscopy investigations and polymerase chain reaction in mononuclear cells, plasma and skin. Dermatology. 1997;195(4):374-8. [Medline].

  3. Sharma PK, Yadav TP, Gautam RK. Erythromycin in pityriasis rosea: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. Feb 2000;42(2 Pt 1):241-4. [Medline].

  4. [Best Evidence] Amer A, Fischer H. Azithromycin does not cure pityriasis rosea. Pediatrics. May 2006;117(5):1702-5. [Medline].

  5. Stulberg DL, Wolfrey J. Pityriasis rosea. Am Fam Physician. Jan 1 2004;69(1):87-91. [Medline].

  6. Drago F, Vecchio F, Rebora A. Use of high-dose acyclovir in pityriasis rosea. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jan 2006;54(1):82-5. [Medline].

  7. Chuh A, Chan H, Zawar V. Pityriasis rosea--evidence for and against an infectious aetiology. Epidemiol Infect. Jun 2004;132(3):381-90. [Medline].

  8. Chuh A, Lee A, Zawar V. Pityriasis rosea--an update. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Sep-Oct 2005;71(5):311-5. [Medline].

  9. Coustou D, Leaute-Labreze C, Bioulac-Sage P, et al. Asymmetric periflexural exanthem of childhood: a clinical, pathologic, and epidemiologic prospective study. Arch Dermatol. Jul 1999;135(7):799-803. [Medline].

  10. Hartley AH. Pityriasis rosea. Pediatr Rev. Aug 1999;20(8):266-9, quiz 270. [Medline].

  11. Horio T. Skin disorders that improve by exposure to sunlight. Clin Dermatol. Jan-Feb 1998;16(1):59-65. [Medline].

  12. Kay MH, Rapini RP, Fritz KA. Oral lesions in pityriasis rosea. Arch Dermatol. Nov 1985;121(11):1449-51. [Medline].

  13. Kempf W, Burg G. Pityriasis rosea--a virus-induced skin disease? An update. Arch Virol. 2000;145(8):1509-20. [Medline].

  14. Nanda A, Al-Hasawi F, Alsaleh QA. A prospective survey of pediatric dermatology clinic patients in Kuwait: an analysis of 10,000 cases. Pediatr Dermatol. Jan-Feb 1999;16(1):6-11. [Medline].

  15. Pomeranz AJ, Fairley JA. The systematic evaluation of the skin in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. Feb 1998;45(1):49-63. [Medline].

  16. Scott LA, Stone MS. Viral exanthems. Dermatol Online J. Aug 9 2003;9(3):4. [Full Text].

  17. Wyndham M. Pityriasis. Practitioner. Jun 1997;241(1575):358. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Richard Lichenstein, MD, Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research, Associate Professor, University of Maryland Medical Center
Richard Lichenstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association and American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jerry Balentine, DO, Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director, Attending Physician in Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Barnabas Hospital
Jerry Balentine, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American Osteopathic Association, and New York Academy of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Mark W Fourre, MD, Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Vermont School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

John D Halamka, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Pamela L Dyne, MD, Associate Professor, Program Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine
Pamela L Dyne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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