Spot Dx — Is it sunburn or something more fishy?
Pete, a 35-year-old, is seen urgently via telehealth to review a red, hot, itchy rash on his back that developed 30 minutes ago.
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<p>Pete, a 35-year-old, is seen urgently via telehealth to review a red, hot, itchy rash on his back that developed 30 minutes ago (pictured).</p><p>A headache coincided with rash onset but has subsided and the itch has eased after a self-administered dose of antihistamine.</p><p>There are no weals and no other systemic symptoms. Pete is otherwise well, with no past history of note, no known allergies and no recent medication use.</p><p>He spent five hours this morning fishing and wonders if he got sunburnt as it was an unexpectedly hot and sunny outing on the tinnie.</p><p>He was wearing sunscreen and a long-sleeved shirt and hat but got caught out without an esky and ice to store the fish.</p><p>He ate some of the mackerel catch about one hour before symptom onset.</p><p>His wife also had a taste and experienced similar symptoms, which settled completely with antihistamine administration.</p>
Dr Kate Kelso is a GP and medical editor at Australian Doctor.