Pityriasis rosea

Miura Shunsuke

doi:10.3812/jocd.24.16

Pityriasis rosea Gibert (PR) has its own characteristic clinical features and course, and most commonly occurs from adolescence to the thirties. Two herpes viruses, HHV-6 and HHV-7 have been suggested to be potent infectious agents. Conventional drug therapy and UV phototherapy do not affect the duration of the disease.<br>Though PR is a self-limited disease, its rapid progress and numerous erythematosquamous lesions on the trunk have a negative impact on patients and cause severe anxiety. In our clinic, we educate them by explaining the presumptive course, lack of communicability and good prognosis. The basic policy to treat patients is just watchful waiting. Of course if they have pruritus, we may prescribe anti-histamine and/or topical corticosteroid ointments.<br>We evaluated 56 patients who visited our clinic from October 2004 through April 2006. They consisted of 9 males and 47 females from 9 to 71 years old (mean: 33.9 y.o).<br>After our explanation, 45 patients did not want any drug. Four of them (4/45; 8.9%) revisited and complained of pruritus. These included one of 8 patients with moderate to severe pruritus, three of 21 patients with mild pruritus, and none of 16 patients without pruritus. For 11 patients who needed drug therapy, one (1/11; 9.1%) with severe pruritus, made a second visit to continue the treatment. In conclusion, we suppose that most patients can follow our regimen for PR. However, a few patients who come just after onset should be treated to prevent worse itching. (Online only)

Pityriasis rosea

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