Health
Smallpox rash most often a benign skin reaction
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 5, 2004
People who have never received a smallpox vaccination may develop any of a variety of benign skin rashes a few days after being vaccinated, said a study in the April 1 Clinical Infectious Diseases.
This rash should not be confused with more dangerous vaccinial lesions, said the researchers.
The five different types of rashes described in the article were all "self-limiting," and cleared up on their own after one to three weeks. The rashes were not accompanied by fever or any other serious symptoms.
A physician who is unaware of the possibility for a benign skin reaction might wrongly assume that a patient's rash signaled the development of a more dangerous variety. "These skin reactions are rather dramatic, and if we're going to be vaccinating against smallpox, the physician should know that these are benign complications and not subject the patient to unnecessary worry," said lead author Richard Greenberg, MD, University of Kentucky professor of medicine.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/04/05/hlbf0405.htm.
