Emergency physicians must frequently diagnose and treat unusual and run-of-the-mill skin lesions. Knowing how to identify and classify skin lesions is essential, said Heather M. Murphy-Lavoie, MD, FACEP, clinical professor of emergency medicine at Louisiana State University Health in New Orleans. She will present “Approach to the Unknown Rash” to help physicians address skin lesions that go beyond hives, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and other more common problems.

Her session will provide a set of four algorithms physicians can use to classify rashes by their clinical appearance: diffuse erythematous, vesiculo-bullous, maculopapular, and petechial/purpuric. Dr. Murphy-Lavoie will use a number of cases to illustrate this algorithmic approach, outlining key factors to differentiate the most common rashes from the most dangerous rashes in each of these categories.

“At the end of the session, attendees will have a self-assessment quiz utilizing the algorithms to solve cases,” she said.