Suspected Viral Maculopapular Eruptions: An Audit of Practice

Background: Consensus is lacking about investigations to be performed for viral eruptions. Aims: Audit of investigative practices for viral eruption. Methods: Retrospective study of patients hospitalized for viral eruption, divided into 2 groups: suspected viral infection (SV), with a clinical presentation suggesting a specific virus, and nonspecific suspected viral infection (NSV). Investigations of results and costs of virology tests. Results: We included 59 patients, 25 in the SV and 34 in the NSV group. Measles was suspected in 21/25 SV patients and confirmed in 20 (95%). The causal agent was confirmed in 6 NSV cases (17.6%), including 2 HIV infections. The median number of virology tests was 7 (1-14) and the median cost was EUR 144, with no significant differences between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Virology testing is useful when a putative virus is clinically suspected. HIV serology screening should be systematically performed.