Infectious mononucleosis affects mainly lymphoid tissues. Since lymph is present in the spleen, tonsils and liver, these organs mainly suffer. Nevertheless, among the characteristic symptoms of the disease there are skin rashes. The mechanism of their appearance has not yet been clarified.
Clinical picture
The incubation period of the disease is quite long. After infection, it takes 20-60 days before the virus begins active multiplication. With the end of the incubation, the first symptoms resemble a picture of tonsillitis. On their background there is a rash.
Sometimes rashes appear dramatically and completely disappear within a few hours. But more often the rash with infectious mononucleosis is observed at the peak of the clinical picture and the skin is gradually cleared as the other symptoms fade:
- Externally, the rash resembles the usual scarlet fever red small spots, characteristic of hemorrhages of small capillaries.
- As a rule, the rash appears on the 7-10th day of the pathology.
- In addition to a red rash, small pink papules can be present on the skin.
- The rash does not disturb the patient, does not cause pain or itching.
- With mononucleosis, the rash on the body passes without leaving a mark, leaving scarring, peeling or pigmentation spots.
- Clear localization of the rash is absent, it can spread to the entire body or affect individual areas.
- Simultaneously with skin rashes, the appearance of white spots
on the back wall of the larynx.
The rash with mononucleosis disappears to 10-12 days of the disease. The symptom does not require any additional treatment.
If antibiotic therapy is used in the treatment of mononucleosis, itching may occur. However, this has nothing to do with the presence of the rash. Usually it is an allergic reaction to a therapeutic agent. Therefore, we need to review the treatment program. Treat the rash with any local drugs is not worth it.