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Guttate psoriasis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Guttate psoriasis often follows acute group B haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in persons genetically predisposed to psoriasis. It accounts for 2% of the total cases of psoriasis (1). In a majority of patients it is a self limiting condition (2).

The clinical features include:

  • presents with salmon pink, dew drop like papules (3)
  • numerous, small, round psoriatic lesions - less than 1 cm diameter (1)
  • number of lesions can vary (from 5 or 10 to over 100) (1)
  • lesions develop acutely and usually has a centripetal distribution pattern (over trunk) but may involve the head and limbs (1)
  • often erupts suddenly following infection - may rapidly disappear or form stable plaques
  • may itch, initially
  • clinically distinguished from pityriasis rosea because pityriasis rosea is a lighter pink colour with scaling confined to the edges of individual lesions
  • acute episodes in children are usually self limiting, but in adults it may complicate chronic plaque disease (1)

Click here for example images of guttate psoriasis

Reference:


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