'Mysterious rash' follow-up

April 3, 2002

It's been nearly a month since dozens of elementary school students broke

out in a mysterious rash. Now the rash is history, and the schools that were

briefly closed are back to normal.

KATU's You Ask, We Investigate report has the latest on what the mystery

rash may have been.

Doctors have been scratching their heads for weeks trying to determine what

caused dozens of Sheridan School kids to break out in the " mystery rash. "

The pinkish rash that surfaced on arms, legs and even necks baffled health

officials because it occurred in clusters of 10 or more kids.

Many thought little of it because kids tend to get rashes.

" A rash can be brought on by a student outside playing basketball that gets

windburn on his arm, to a student who's about to take a test who has a flash

of red go up his neck, " school nurse Perkins told KATU. Nevertheless,

doctors took blood samples from 6 Sheridan students.

Yamhill County health officials told KATU that the results are in--and

they're inconclusive.

Yet following the outbreak of a rash that briefly closed one Sheridan

school, a similar rash has popped up in other places hundreds and even

thousands of miles away.

Similar reports by young children, mostly by girls, were reported in

Washington and several eastern states. Dermatologists there say more than

likely, the rash is the result of a virus, and there's no reason for parents

to worry since viral rashes are common and come and go about as quickly as

the Sheridan rash disapeared.

Oregon health officials are still testing blood samples from Yamhill County.

KATU will let you know what they discover, if anything.

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