Early spring brings many of the viruses that cause skin rashes.
Additionally, it is the time of year that also brings many kinds of allergies, so the dilemma for many parents and teachers is to decide if a rash is an allergic reaction, a symptom of an illness that may be communicable, or simply a rash of little consequence. A child with a generalized rash or a rash that suggests the presence of a communicable illness will be excluded from school until seen by their doctor and given clearance to return. Because teachers cannot diagnose a rash, sending the child to the doctor not only protected the child but all the children in the room. Rashes from completely different causes may look similar, but a physician can almost always say whether or not the rash is contagious, even when the cause may escape precise identification. There are still some systemic illnesses that start with a rash which can be serious, contagious diseases.