The disease is mostly temporarily associated (≤2 weeks) with a viral or a bacterial infection (more rarely a vaccination).
It affects almost exclusively subjects of both sexes ≥4 weeks to ≤24 months of age.
Skin lesions develop over 24–48 hours and include a) large, round, red to purpuric plaques (often with a target-like appearance) and b) mostly tender non-pitting edema over the cheeks, ears, and extremities, with relative sparing of the trunk.
Pruritus, scratch marks and mucus membranes involvement are uncommon.
The child is not-ill-appearing*.
The disease spontaneously recovers in 1-2 weeks.
* Normal eye contact with ability to recognize parents or to interact with persons or objects in the environment, absent cyanosis or pallor, absent coldness of the extremities with capillary refill ≤2 seconds in “warm” environment, respiratory rate neither increased nor decreased.
