PITYRIASIS ROSEA

Abstract

The diversity of impressions concerning this remarkable disease is rather amazing. Clinically, the condition is clear cut, what with the herald spot, the disseminated exanthem, the lack of enanthem, the frequency of itching, often very severe, the rarity of constitutional manifestations, the uniformity of the course and the rarity of recurrences. These compose a picture establishing the disease as a clinical entity beyond peradventure. Undoubtedly, the malady is infectious; and, since the agent is unknown, it is difficult to state whether the infection is purely local or general. Favoring the hypothesis of a general infection, according to reports in the literature, is the occasional presence of constitutional symptoms such as fever, malaise and slight arthralgia. Against the theory of general infection is the absence of an enanthem. If it were not for this fact, in isolated cases it might be more justifiable to regard the disease as an acute eruptive