Fever and rash

Also called Fever with rash

Notification class: Class 1 notifiable eventHealth care providers report it immediately on suspicion to the Medical Officer of Health at their parish health department, or to the National Surveillance Unit, within 24 hours of contact.
Categories: Syndromic, Vaccine-preventable diseases

Case definition

Fever (≥38°C or 100.4°F) and a generalised maculopapular rash.

In syndromic surveillance

Fever (≥38°C or 100.4°F) (or recent history of fever) and a maculopapular rash.

Specimen

Serum specimen (collected less than 7 days after onset of rash) in a red top tube on ice.

Laboratory

National Public Health Lab (Immunology Section)

Timeline for investigation

First contact strategy but within 48 hours

Special note

There should be no obvious cause of one or both symptoms, indicating that the symptoms are related to each other. This case definition will capture suspected measles, rubella, dengue and roseola cases.

Source: National Surveillance Manual

How it’s monitored

Measles and rubella are reported under fever and rash. The weekly bulletin gives confirmed cases for the year to date, beside last year’s.

The figures

The National Surveillance Unit publishes the latest figures every week.

Weekly bulletins

Dashboards

For health professionals

Case definitions

Forms

How to report