Triage of a febrile patient with a rash: a comparison of chickenpox, monkeypox, and smallpox

The immediate and correct recognition of an infectious exanthema can be aided with a focused history and minor assessment. False alarms can consume health care resources and create unnecessary anxiety. Clinicians can use specific references to not only help with educating staff, but to ensure a more accurate diagnosis and trigger notification of appropriate infectious disease protocols. The authors recommend that al emergency departments have a process in place to immediately isolate suspicious cases until a more thorough medial workup can be performed.