Case & ReviewPunctate exanthem of West Nile Virus infection: Report of 3 cases
Section snippets
Case 1
A 40-year-old female was seen as an outpatient with a 1-week history of lethargy, and a 5-day history of an asymptomatic “rash” on the bilateral arms, legs, and trunk (Fig 1, A and B). The patient developed her illness in August and lived in the Chicago area. There was no reported history of mosquito exposure. The patient had previously been seen by a primary care physician who had diagnosed her with folliculitis. Physical examination showed numerous 1 mm-2 mm erythematous blanchable papules on
Discussion
With numerous nonspecific signs and symptoms and a wide spectrum of clinical severity, diagnosis of WNL infection is often difficult, ultimately requiring serological confirmation. Thus, any clinical clues available to trigger appropriate diagnostic testing are valuable to the treating physician. Skin manifestations of WNV infection are common and are readily apparent to both patients and practitioners alike. Here we attempt to refine the characteristics of the eruption associated with WNV
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2007, Clinics in DermatologyCitation Excerpt :There is no specific antiviral therapy. Experience suggests however that antibiotic therapy should be started early when indicated.32 Barmah Forest virus is an alphavirus transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.34
Avoiding a rash diagnosis
2011, New England Journal of MedicineCitation Excerpt :As the discussant notes, cutaneous findings may be associated with a number of viral, bacterial, or rickettsial infections. Rash has been described in approximately 20% of patients infected with West Nile virus.3,4 Cutaneous manifestations are nonspecific and include erythematous macular, papular, or morbilliform eruptions on the trunk or the extremities.3–5
West Nile Virus: Evolutionary Dynamics, Advances in Diagnostics, and Therapeutic Interventions
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Conflicts of interest: None identified.
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