Fever and rash in Thailand (part1/2)
If you have fever while traveling in Thailand or fever with a rash in a tropical country , what can you do? and what’s possible cause? Today I will give you some ideas.
Fever can be caused by various infectious and non-infectious conditions. The possibilities depend on factors like how many days of the illness (acute or chronic), type of rash, other associate symptoms, and exposure or traveling history. Below are common causes:
Infections
Infection can be virus , bacteria or other but most common is virus. in my experience here in Pattaya , tourists concern about Dengue fever but it’s not common one .
Dengue Fever :
I will give more details in another post , but if you were here in rainy season ( Approx June till October ) And you had exposed to mosquito , it can be Dengue. Remember that in typical case the fever comes before the rash for 3-4 days.
Rash: Blotchy or pinpoint red spots (petechiae), often appears after fever subsides.
Other symptoms: High fever, severe headache, muscle/joint pain, eye globe pain, and bleeding tendencies , poor appetite or even vomiting, tiredness.
Chikungunya Virus:
Chikungunya also a virus transmitted by mosquito .
Rash: Maculopapular rash, usually widespread. Sometimes at the same time of fever , or after few days.
Other symptoms: High fever, severe joint pain, fatigue, and headache.
Corona and other Virus
Many viral disease including Covid and coronavirus , can cause fever with rash
Rash: Maculopapular, often accompanied by conjunctivitis.
Other symptoms: Mild fever, muscle pain, headache, and malaise.
Rubella (german measles)
Rash: Fine maculopapular rash evenly distributed all body.
Other symptoms: fever (usually low grade)and rash appear simultaneously at the first day , or no fever , malaise .
Typhus (Scrub Typhus)
Rash: Starts on the trunk and spreads to extremities, maculopapular or petechial.
Other symptoms: Fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes; eschar at the bite site.
Measles
Rash: Starts on the face and spreads downward, blotchy and red.
Other symptoms: High fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and Koplik spots in the mouth.