Blueberry Muffin Rash Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Blueberry muffin rash is a dermatological disease. In this disease, newborn babies are born with blueberry shaped round nodules or marks on skin. These marks are multiple in number. Because of resemblance of this rash with blueberries, it is termed as blueberry muffin rash. Blueberry muffin rash appears because of accumulation of blood producing cells. Bleeding within the skin and cancer spreading may also appear via blueberry muffin rash. The accumulation of blood producing cells in skin is known as extramedullary hematopoiesis.

It has generalized appearance but usually if affects trunk, head and neck region. Blueberry muffin rash appears round in shape but often it appears oval in shape. It has bluish purple color. This rash appears in various congenital infections like rubella, congenital syphilis, rhesus incompatibility, parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis and B2 infection. It is a disease that can be observed with naked eye and no diagnostic tool is required.

Blueberry muffin rash appears as a sign or symptom of many diseases. So it itself counted as a diagnostic tool for above mentioned congenital diseases. Likewise treatment of blueberry muffin rash involve management of root cause behind it as this will make its treatment easier.

Blueberry Muffin Rash Symptoms

Blueberry muffin rash is a skin disease. It appears as bluish purple color nodules or marks. These may be round or oval in shape. Anemia is a main symptom with associated liver and spleen enlargement i.e. hepatosplenomegaly. Babies with blueberry muffin rash show some symptoms which involve jaundice, retarded growth of baby during intrauterine development and abnormal central nervous system development. Abnormal development of central nervous system may involve seizures, microcephaly, Deafness, chorioretinitis and cerebral calcifications. All the above mentioned conditions are the visible symptoms of blueberry muffin rash and their presence confirms this rash.

Blueberry Muffin Rash Causes

Blueberry muffin rash itself is a sign of many congenital diseases and these congenital diseases involve neuroblastoma, congenital leukemia cutis, langerhans cell histiocytosis and rhabdomyosarcoma. It may also occur due to blood disorders. These blood disorders involve hereditary spherocytosis, hemolytic diseases like ABO compatibility or rhesus and twin twin transfusion syndrome. Some congenital infections are also responsible for blueberry muffin rash and these infections include parvovirus, syphilis, rubella, herpes simplex, toxoplasmosis, epstein barr virus, cytomegalovirus and coxsackie B2 virus. For these congenital infections, an acronym is used i.e. TORCH. It is abbreviated as Toxoplasmosis, Other infections, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus.

Blueberry Muffin Rash Treatment

Blueberry muffin rash involves various causes so, treatment is selected according to them. Physicians recommend to manage the leading cause 1st and ultimately blueberry muffin rash heals itself. In case of congenital diseases, there is no permanent treatment but temporary treatment can remove blueberry muffin rash. Diagnosis should be proper for treatment. Skin biopsy is performed to check leukemia and cancer. Bone marrow biopsy is also performed. If congenital infections are the underlying cause, then antibiotics are prescribed. In case of blood disorders, proper blood therapy is recommended.