vesiculopapular

Vesiculopapular is a descriptive term used in dermatology to characterize a skin or mucosal eruption that includes both vesicles (small fluid-filled blisters) and papules (raised solid lesions). It is not a disease in itself but a pattern that can occur in a variety of conditions, infectious and non-infectious, and in different age groups.

Common etiologies include infectious diseases such as varicella (chickenpox), herpes simplex virus infections, and disseminated herpes zoster, as well as hand-foot-and-mouth disease caused by enteroviruses. Non-infectious causes include inflammatory or allergic processes such as contact dermatitis and dyshidrotic eczema, autoimmune or drug-related eruptions, and certain papulovesicular variants of dermatitis or pityriasis lichenoides. The distribution, mucosal involvement, associated systemic symptoms, and vaccination or exposure history help guide diagnosis.

Evaluation typically starts with a clinical exam and history. Diagnostic tools may include skin swabs or PCR testing for varicella zoster virus or herpes simplex virus, viral culture, serology, and, when uncertain, a skin biopsy to distinguish vesicular from papular lesions and assess pattern of inflammation.

Management targets the underlying cause and symptom relief. Antiviral therapy is used for varicella or herpes infections in appropriate patients; topical corticosteroids and emollients aid inflammatory or irritant etiologies; prevention and treatment of secondary bacterial infection may be necessary. Drug-induced vesiculopapular eruptions require identification and discontinuation of the offending agent. Prognosis varies with cause and patient factors; many outbreaks resolve with treatment or spontaneously over days to weeks.