A maculopapular rash is a medical term used to describe a unique type of rash. It is a compound of the terms macule (spots) and papule (bumps). It is usually also described as erythematous, or red.
Macules are small, flat, discolored spots on the surface of the skin. Papules are small, raised bumps. A maculopapular rash is a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps.
This type of rash is common in several diseases and medical conditions, including scarlet fever, measles, secondary syphillis, Fifth disease (caused by parvovirus B19) and heat rash. It is also a common manifestation of a skin reaction to the antibiotic amoxicillin or chemotherapy drugs.[1] Cutaneous infiltration of leukemic cells may also have this appearance. Maculopapular rash is seen in Graft vs. Host Disease (GHV) developed after a blood transfusion. In GHV reactions such as maculopapular rash the can be seen within one week or several weeks after the blood transfusion. In this case the maculopapular rash seen in GHV can progress to toxic epidermal necrolysis.((emedicine/date=July 2008)) Additionally, this is the type of rash that patients who present with Ebola hemorrhagic (EBO-Z) fever will reveal. It is also seen in patients with Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, a filovirus not unlike Ebola.
This type of rash can be as a result of large doses of niacin or no flush niacin, (2000 - 2500 mg.) sometimes used for the management of low HDL cholesterol. Additionally, a maculopapular rash is a classical sign of a meningitis.
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