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Mystery itch baffles officials The rash that affected 46 local students doesn't fit any of the usual patterns By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A rash that affected 46 Jackson County students last week grew more mysterious Monday as perplexed health officials discovered symptoms sometimes appearing and disappearing within minutes. "It's the strangest thing I've ever seen," said Hank Collins, Jackson County health and human services director. Forty students at Medford's Abraham Lincoln Elementary and six at Jewett Elementary came down with rashes last week, with most recovering by Monday. Five adults - including the school nurse - at Abraham Lincoln also temporarily had symptoms, but theirs were less severe than the students'. Only one new case was reported at Abraham Lincoln on Monday. Most of those affected were female. Some students at Abraham Lincoln have reported to the school office with symptoms and have had no rash a few minutes later. Others had the rash at school but were fine at home. Second-grade students had more of a poison-oak or dermatitis-like rash, while fourth-graders exhibited more of a sunburn-like reaction. At Jewett, Principal Dennis Allen said six girls were treated with calamine lotion Friday after they exhibited the sunburn-like rash and no other symptoms. "We've had no new cases today (Monday)," said Allen. Health officials initially thought the rash, which appears on the face and other parts of the body, was a variation of fifth disease, also called "slapped cheek disease," but now they're not so sure. "It's pointing in the direction of an environmental problem," said Viki Barbour of Jackson County health services. Abraham Lincoln officials had classrooms cleaned last week and plan to have an industrial hygiene specialist inspect the campus soon. Health officials also want to draw blood from some students to have it analyzed. Despite the concern about the students' condition, Barbour said "there is no compelling reason for them not to be in school." Similar outbreaks have been reported in Pennsylvania and Canada. Barbour said health investigators in Canada determined similar rashes were psychologically induced, calling them "hysterical rashes." One of six dermatologists who examined the Medford students Friday said doctors still don't know what's causing the rash. "It's a mystery. It's the darnedest thing," said Dr. David Trask of Medford. "Kids aren't really sick. They're just itching a lot. Things just don't quite add up." Trask said some parents have been troubled because physicians can't tell them the cause of the rash. "People's imaginations run wild. We don't want people to panic, but people are in a panic mode after what happened on Sept. 11." Trask said the symptoms he's seen suggest a virus could be causing the rash, but there are no known viruses that produce only a rash without other symptoms such as fever. Medford School District nurse Deneen Nave, who works at Abraham Lincoln school, said she had a short-lived rash that broke out on her forearms. She thought her symptoms were an allergic reaction to something. Nave said it is not uncommon for rashes to appear and disappear and to also react differently depending on the age of the person. On Monday, Abraham Lincoln Principal Bob Hartwig said only a few second-graders and about six fourth-graders were complaining of itching. "I am pleasantly delighted it's not droves of people," he said. Last week the school searched the campus for something that could be causing the students to itch. "It's always been a concern of ours that there is an irritant causing this," said Hartwig. Mail Tribune reporter Bill Kettler also contributed to this story. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.