Differential Diagnosis for Rash and Bumps after a Recent Trip to the Dominican Republic
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Insect bites or allergic reactions: This is a common occurrence in tropical destinations like the Dominican Republic, where insects such as mosquitoes, bed bugs, or sand flies are prevalent. The rash and bumps could be a result of an allergic reaction to the bites.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Dengue fever: A mosquito-borne illness common in the Caribbean, characterized by fever, rash, and sometimes a petechial rash (small bumps).
- Chikungunya: Another mosquito-borne disease that can cause fever, joint pain, and a rash.
- Zika virus: Also transmitted by mosquitoes, Zika can cause a mild fever, rash, and conjunctivitis.
- Contact dermatitis: Exposure to new plants, sunscreen, or insect repellents during the trip could cause an allergic reaction leading to a rash.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Malaria: Although less common in the Dominican Republic, malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which can cause fever, chills, and a rash.
- Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection that can be contracted through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, which can cause a rash, fever, and headache.
- Rickettsial diseases (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever): These are transmitted by ticks and can cause fever, headache, and a rash.
Rare Diagnoses
- Lyme disease: Although more common in temperate climates, Lyme disease can occur in the Caribbean and is transmitted by ticks, causing a distinctive "bull's-eye" rash.
- Cutaneous larva migrans: A parasitic infection caused by the larvae of hookworms, which can enter the skin through contact with contaminated soil, causing a rash and itching.
- Onchocerciasis (river blindness): A parasitic disease transmitted by blackflies, which can cause a rash, itching, and eye problems, although it is relatively rare in the Dominican Republic.