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Parvovirus B19 infection follows four common patterns of presentation

Researchers identified four principal skin patterns of manifestation for parvovirus B19: exanthema, acral gloves-and-socks, periflexural and vasculitis, according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The retrospective study included 29 patients (17 women, 12 men) who had consulted a physician at a dermatology department for fever or rash. Median patient age was 38 years.

The primary dermatologic lesions were erythema (25 cases, 86%), purpura (20 cases, 69%) or both. Edema was reported in 7 cases (24%). Fourteen patients reported pruritus (48%), according to the study.

Researchers observed four principal patterns, which can overlap: exanthema, either reticulate or nonreticulate in 23 cases; acral gloves-and-socks involvement in 7 cases; a periflexural pattern, which may or may not be purpuric, was found in 8 cases, and a vasculitis pattern in 7 cases.

Patients presented at least 2 patterns in 45% of cases and 5 patients had 3 patterns, according to the study.

Treatment was prescribed in only 48% of cases and 92% of all acute parvovirus B19 infection cases had a positive outcome.

Another finding made by the researchers was the high incidence of pruritus (48%) in study participants.

In addition to the four common patterns in parvovirus B19 infection, researchers concluded that an acral or periflexural distribution of the rash and the presence of purpuric or annular/reticulate lesions can suggest parvovirus B19.