Rashes Send Phila. Schoolkids Home

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Friday, March 22, 2002

Rashes Send Phila. Schoolkids Home

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An outbreak of mysterious rashes among schoolchildren

continued here this week, with about 60 youngsters sent home with itchy,

pink blotches.

The rashes on the students' arms and necks surfaced nearly two months after

hundreds of students in the area complained of similar rashes. Since

October, 14 states have reported outbreaks of unexplained rashes affecting

10 to 600 people at a time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no common cause for the

outbreaks.

About 34 students at Mast Community Charter School in northeast Philadelphia

reported the rash Wednesday and were sent home. Another 26 were sent home

Thursday, said Delguercio, president of the school's board of

trustees.

The school sent letters to parents of nearly 1,000 students explaining the

problem.

``What the Health Department told us is that it appeared to be a viral

infection similar to this mystery rash that's going around,'' Delguercio

said.

Similar rashes closed two Pennsylvania elementary schools and an

intermediate school in early February.