Diagnostic Pitfall in Atypical Febrile Presentation in a Patient with a Pregnancy-Specific Dermatosis—Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) usually occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy in primiparous women. It is a self-limiting inflammatory disorder with a still unknown pathogenic mechanism. The abdominal wall overdistension, with a subsequent inflammatory response due to damage to the connective tissue, represents a pathogenesis explanation. Clinical features involve intensely pruritic urticarial rash with edematous, erythematous papules and plaques. The clinical picture and dermal biopsy establish the diagnosis. Topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines are usually sufficient, but sometimes systemic corticosteroids are necessary. Maternal and fetal prognosis is excellent, and the lesions resolve after birth with no scarring or pigmentary change. We present a case of a 36-year-old patient with a 32-week pregnancy who was admitted with a generalized pruritic rash accompanied by fever. The final diagnosis was decided after multiple pathology exclusions. Treatment consisted of systemic corticoid therapy. The patient gave birth by cesarean section to a healthy newborn without dermatological lesions or other conditions. Adding more PUPPP cases to the literature portfolio will bring more awareness to this underrecognized and under-reported skin disorder. We trust this case will encourage other physicians to publish more cases of pregnancy-specific dermatoses.