Gianotti-Crosti syndrome: a frequent but underdiagnosed rash

The diagnosis is clinic and there are no specific laboratory features characteristic of GCS; however, the laboratory tests to identify an aetiologic cause may also be considered in specific situations, for example, patients with extracutaneous clinical findings as in this case report.1 2 The prognosis of GCS is excellent; however, the rash may take time to resolve; it usually resolves spontaneously between 10 days and 6 months, thus, requiring no treatment.3 In case of pruritus, treatment is supportive through the use of emollients/topical antipruritic lotions (provides relief) and oral antihistamines (if the pruritus interferes with sleep and activities of daily living).4 It is important to recognise this entity in order to avoid carrying out complementary unnecessary tests for diagnoses. Patient’s perspective We realised that the cutaneous symptoms were related to a viral infection and that the prognosis was excellent once it is a self-limited cutaneous disorder and the treatment is only symptomatic with pruritus control. Learning points Gianotti-Crosti syndrome is a self-limited skin eruption and it is associated with viral infections (most frequent), vaccination or bacterial infections.