In the Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology, Lord1 reported the simultaneous appearance of pityriasis rosea in two members of a family, offering this finding in support of the infectious theory of the disease. Lord reviewed the literature on the subject, citing eighteen instances of pityriasis occurring apparently as a result of close association.
We are third year medical students, closely associated through teaming together in assigned work. In both of us recently there developed primary plaques followed by numerous cutaneous lesions. The disorder was diagnosed in the dermatologic division of the clinic as pityriasis rosea. We work together on patients assigned to us in the clinic but have not had contact, to the best of our knowledge, with a patient having pityriasis rosea. We do not room together.
The primary plaque appeared on one of us one week before it appeared on the other. In the one of us