Spot Dx — Is this birth rash ‘nothing to worry about’?

Poppy is a six-week-old who is brought in for her routine six-week check and vaccines. You notice a rash (pictured) on examination, affecting the back and abdomen.

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<p>Poppy is a six-week-old who is brought in for her routine six-week check and vaccines.</p><p>She was delivered vaginally at term after an uneventful pregnancy.</p><p>She is breastfeeding, gaining weight and reaching milestones as expected.</p><p>Both parents are well with no significant medical or family history.</p><p>You notice a rash (pictured) on examination, affecting the back and abdomen</p><p>Poppy’s parents report this was present at birth and that Poppy and her mum had a “thorough workup including blood tests and ultrasounds” by the hospital paediatrics team, who concluded it was “nothing to worry about”.</p><p>The rash has faded a little since birth. It is non-blanching, reticulated and violaceous, with patchy erythematous and telangiectatic areas interspersed with livedoid reticulations.</p><p>The rash does not change with changes in skin temperature. Physical examination is otherwise unremarkable.</p>

Dr Kate Kelso is a GP and medical editor at Australian Doctor.