The word exanthem actually means a skin eruption that bursts forth or blooms. It is typically used to describe a rash that is widespread over the body, symmetric, and red with macules or papules, but without scales. Exanthems are usually caused by viral or bacterial infections, or drugs. Exanthems used to be consecutively numbered based on their historical appearance and description.

• First disease - measles
• Second disease - scarlet fever
• Third disease - rubella
• Fourth disease - "Dukes' disease" (probably a coxsackievirus or echovirus infection)
• Fifth disease - erythema infectiosum
• Sixth disease - roseola infantum

Pronunciation: eks-AN-thum • (noun)

Related Resources:

Bacterial Infection Links
Links to information all over the internet about bacterial infections.
Viral Infections
Links to information all over the internet about viral infections.