Introduction
Evolution has provided multilayered organic armor to all organisms in the form of skin. Skin is the human body's largest organ and acts as a barrier to external forces, the environment, and microbial flora. However, some microbes can penetrate the skin layer, anchor itself, and spread infection. These infections are called contagious skin diseases. Since the skin is the body's outermost layer, it is important to know the various common contagious cutaneous conditions, knowledge of which can help prevent the spread and hasten recovery.
What Are the Most Common Contagious Skin Rashes?
The list of most common contagious skin rashes includes conditions affecting the organic armor of children and adults, and the etiologies include bacteria, fungi, toxins, and viruses. The list includes:
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Impetigo.
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Ringworm.
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Molluscum contagiosum.
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MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
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Chickenpox and shingles.
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Folliculitis.
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease.
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Poison ivy.
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Herpes.
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Thrush.
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Athlete’s foot.
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Jock itch.
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Warts.
What Is Impetigo?
Impetigo is a common superficial skin infection that is highly contagious and is caused by gram-positive bacteria. This accounts for about ten percent of pediatric cutaneous complaints, 90 percent of the cases being below the age of two. Impetigo starts as a vesicle or pustule that coalesce and rupture to form a characteristic honey-colored crust by the purulent exudate.
The lesion has a reddish base with multiple facial and extremity lesions. It may be accompanied by lymphadenopathy (swelling of lymph nodes) and fever.
The treatment is done with a prescription of topical antibiotics only or in conjunction with systemic antibiotics.
What Is a Ringworm?
Ringworm, a common fungal infection of the scalp, is also known as tinea capitis and is caused due to the Microsporum and Trichophyton fungal species. The fungus penetrates the outer sheath of the hair follicle and then invades the hair shaft. The infection usually affects children between three and 14 years and may also involve eyelashes and eyebrows.
The infection begins as red papules and may eventually involve the entire scalp, presenting symptoms like redness, itching, scale formation, and alopecia. Certain variants may even cause deep oozing nodules, abscesses, crusting, or scutula.
Treatment modalities include antifungal medications, shampoos, lotions, creams for up to two months, and short-term systemic steroids.
What Is Molluscum Contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious skin rash of viral origin caused due to Poxvirus from the Molluscipox genus. The infection is usually prevalent in preschoolers and elementary school children.
The lesions are typically asymptomatic, discrete, smooth, flesh-colored, dome-shaped papules with a umbilication in the center from which cheesy materials may be expressed.
Treatment may be by mechanical debridement, chemical disinfection, immune-modulatory therapy, or antiviral medication (systemic or topical).
What Is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an infection with bacterial resistance to Methicillin antibiotics. This bacteria is one of the leading causes of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections with significant morbidity and mortality. The bacteria shows its prowess throughout the body.
Over the skin, the bacteria may cause cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and diabetic foot ulcers.
Owing to the resistance, the antibiotic profile is carefully selected to eliminate the infection. Some regimens include Doxycycline and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole.
What Are Chickenpox and Shingles?
Chickenpox and shingles are two forms of the same infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. Chickenpox is the primary infection in the non-immune host, while shingles reactivate latent infection.
The virus causes small, itchy blisters over the skin, forming scabs later. The rashes begin on the chest, back, and face and spread all over. Symptoms like fever, fatigue, pharyngitis, and headaches may also occur for about a week.
Treatment focuses on soothing the symptoms as they present, along with adequate rest and hydration.
What Is Folliculitis?
Folliculitis is a bacterial skin inflammation of the superficial and deep hair follicles caused by various bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites, or secondary to immune dysfunction.
Folliculitis presents as red, itchy, and even painful bumps or pus-filled blisters all over the body, most commonly seen on the face, neck, scalp, chest, and back. The infection may turn into serious cellulitis.
The treatment for folliculitis usually includes antibiotics and topical medications, corticosteroids, and laser therapy.
What Are Cold Sores?
Cold sores, typically, are herpes simplex virus (type 1 and type 2) infections presenting as painful unilateral blisters around the lips, which may spread inside and around the mouth. The lesions rupture and crust into a scab.
The lesions are usually painful on first appearance and may be accompanied by fever in young children.
Treatment may not be necessary or may need antiviral ointment creams, patches, gels, or oral antivirals on prescription.
What Are Scabies?
Scabies is a cutaneous infection caused due to an infestation of a mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, that burrows into the skin and causes intense itching. The infestation is common in intertriginous areas, axillae, umbilicus, between digits, the beltline, nipples, buttocks, areolae of female breasts, flexural surfaces of the wrists, or on the penile shaft. The by-productions of mites may even illicit a type-IV hypersensitivity reaction.
Topical Permethrin, topical Crotamiton, and systemic Ivermectin can be regarded as treatments.
What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral infection affecting children and, infants, sometimes adults. The causative organism is the coxsackievirus of the Picornaviridae viral family.
The lesion may be a vesicle surrounded by a thin erythematous halo that ruptures to form ulcers with a gray-yellow base with an erythematous rim. Usually seen over the hand, feet, buttocks, legs, arms, buccal mucosa, and tongue; the lesions are accompanied by various systemic manifestations like fever, appetite loss, malaise, and throat pain and may progress to central nervous system involvement.
The treatment plan is usually supportive in nature, along with adequate hydration.
What Is Poison Ivy?
Poison ivy, or Toxicodendron dermatitis, is a result of an allergic reaction triggered due to the oil sap (urushiol) produced by the Toxicodendron radicans plant.
Patients usually present with intense itching with incipient stages of a papular or vesicular rash in a linear pattern. The condition is self-limiting, and initial management involves immediate irrigation using soap along with decontamination of exposed clothing. Fingernails must not be ignored.
Some common management means include cool, moist compresses, oatmeal baths, calamine lotion, and topical astringents.
What Is Herpes?
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus and is a sexually transmitted infection with lesions around the anal region, external genitalia, mucosal surfaces, and skin in other parts of the body.
The lesions may present as ulcers, blisters, or cold sores, along with pain during urination and vaginal discharge.
The treatment is done via oral antiviral drugs along with supportive therapy, rest, and hydration.
What Is Thrush?
Thrust is a yeast infection due to Candida fungus. The lesion appears on the mucosal membranes of the mouth, throat, and vagina, most commonly in immunocompromised individuals as an opportunistic infection.
The treatment is done with antimycotics (topical and oral) for over one to two weeks.
What Is Athletes’ Foot?
Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, or foot ringworm infection, as the name suggests, is a fungal infection of the soles, interdigital clefts of toes, and nails by Trichophyton or Trichophyton fungi due to the presence of hot, sweaty, and humid environment in the feet.
Clinically, the condition presents as a long-standing, itchy dermatitis with an erythematous, fine, and silvery white scale over the affected area areas.
Topical Imidazoles, Terbinafine, and Amorolfine usually suffice in recovery.
What Is Jock Itch?
Jock itch, or tinea cruris, is a Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, or Microsporum fungal infection affecting the genital, pubic, perineal, and perianal skin.
Patients often complain of a pruritic rash that is an erythematous, scaly, annular plaque with a raised leading edge and central clearing in the affected regions.
The condition can be managed by topical therapies with Allylamines and the Azoles group of antifungals.
What Are Warts?
Warts are benign lesions of the skin and mucosa caused by human papillomavirus (HIV) infection.
The virus can cause a variety of warts, including genital, flat, Myrmecia, focal epithelial hyperplasia, etc. Some warts in immunocompromised individuals show a malignant tendency. The typical appearance of warts varies according to the type of wart, which makes the clinical appearance a valuable differentiating factor.
Some of the treatment modalities involve salicylic acid, Cryotherapy, retinoic acid, podophyllin, topical 5-fluorouracil, Imiquimod, Tretinoin, immunotherapy, Bleomycin, and interferon alfa.
Conclusion
All of the listed and summarized cutaneous conditions are highly contagious and can spread by touch, sharing clothing, and personal hygiene objects, some may even spread by secondary sources. It is essential to maintain hygiene and ensure adequate measures are taken to avoid infecting individuals around. Few cutaneous conditions turn fatal, and others can be managed without complications. It is better to prevent any such infection, which is quite easy by maintaining personal hygiene and a spick and span surrounding.
