Approach to a the Child with a Fever and RashGeneral PresentationChildren frequently present at the physicians office or emergency room with a fever and rash. Although the differential diagnosis is very broad, adequate history and physical examination can help the clinician narrow down a list of more probable etiologies. It is important for physicians to be diligent, as the differential diagnosis can include contagious infections or life-threatening diseases.Even though there is a strong link between the presentation of fever and rash and infectious disease, it is important to keep in mind that other non-infectious diseases can also have similar presentations (e.g. drug reactions, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease).

PresentationFeatures of the rash: Characteristic of lesions Distribution and progression Timing of onset in relation to fever Morphological changes (e.g. papules to vesicles)Common skin lesions: Macule: nonpalpable, circumscribed, flat lesion (