The word exanthema comes from the Greek exantheo, ‘I bloom’ and describes an acute skin rash.
It occurs frequently in general infectious diseases and is therefore generalized and symmetrical.
There are different types of exanthema.
A historical classification of childhood diseases until 1910 is still used in many textbooks in pedriatics today.
It describes numbered 6 diseases with different pathogens: bacterias, viruses and unknown pathogens.
Let´s have a look to this historical classification:
1st disease = measles: it is caused by the measles virus. Patients are very ill under this viral infection with fever, bronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and the so-called Koplik spots.
2nd disease - scarlet fever: it is caused by ß-hemolytic group A streptococci. It consists of tonsillitis, a rash and raspberry tongue.
3rd disease - rubella, also called German measles or three-day measles: it is caused by a virus called rubivirus. Rubella is known by its distinctive red rash with small red papules that do not confluent and are surrounded by an anemic border.
4th disease is the Rubeola Scarlatinosa although nowadays this disease is doubtful.
5th disease is the erythema infectiosum or also called rubella and is caused by parvovirus B19.
The exanthema is characterized by figured or diffuse erythema and is garland-shaped .
6th disease: exanthema subitum or three days fever and is caused by HHV6 and sometimes HHV7. The name three-day fever refers to the first 3 days of fever , followed by a rash covering most of the body while the fever drops.
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