Correspondence: Non-blanching rash; Goitre; Lung age

The NICE guideline which was used as the basis for this article is specifically aimed at recognition of serious illness in children with fever. The guidance states that a child with fever, who has a non-blanching rash, is classified as being at high risk of having a serious illness and it is recommended that they are referred to secondary care for further assessment.¹

You are correct in stating that a non-blanching rash in this context is more accurately defined as a haemorrhagic rash. It is expected that clinical judgement would be used in interpreting this guidance and it is not intended that a child with a non-blanching rash and no signs of fever, e.g. as may be seen in eczema, would be referred immediately to secondary care.

Education about the signs of meningitis has increased awareness among parents of the potential importance of a non-blanching rash. Parents are encouraged to have their child assessed by a health professional if they have signs of a non-blanching rash, and in the majority of cases they can be reassured and appropriate advice and education given. GPs are likely to see large numbers of children with non-specific, non-blanching rashes, for every child who presents with symptoms and signs of serious illness.²

The difficulty for parents, and sometimes even for GPs, is in determining which of these children has a serious illness and which do not. A study in the UK reported that 11% of children who presented with a non-blanching rash had meningococcal infection and a further 5% were diagnosed with another serious illness such as Henoch Schonlein purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenia and acute leukaemia.³

Any non-blanching rash in a child who is feverish and appears unwell is an important marker of serious illness and parents should continue to be encouraged to seek medical attention for their child. It is up to the clinician to interpret the significance of the rash in the context of other symptoms and decide whether further assessment is required

The use of lung age as a way of encouraging people to quit smoking is indeed contentious. It is agreed that the supporting evidence is relatively weak, and that there are several factors that may confound the estimation of lung age.

The “snippet” in BPJ 13 was based on the study by Parkes et al¹ in which smokers underwent spirometry. The intervention group were given an estimate of their lung age, and the control group were given a simple spirometry reading. Smoking quit rates were higher in the intervention group compared with the control group. However, in the intervention group, quit rates were similar between those with “higher lung age” and those with “normal lung age”. This suggests that factors other than telling people their lung age might have also influenced quit rates.

For some individuals, lung age might be a useful motivating strategy, in addition to other smoking cessation methods. However, it does appear that on a population basis, the use of “lung age” may not be helpful.

Iodine has been recognised for some time now as being an important trace element. Due to its low content in local soil, it is difficult to achieve adequate levels of iodine in New Zealand. As a public heath measure, iodine was added to salt, and more recently iodised salt is now required to be used in most commercially available breads.

Iodine supplements could in theory be taken by non-pregnant patients who may be iodine deficient, but it would be more appropriate to advise these patients to enhance their dietary iodine intake by the use of iodised salt, bread, seafood, etc, much in the same way as patients are generally advised to achieve their recommended vitamin C intake through diet rather than by supplementation.

Euthyroid goitre (simple, non-toxic goitre) is a non-cancerous hypertrophy of the thyroid without hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or inflammation. Except in severe iodine deficiency, the thyroid function is normal and patients are asymptomatic apart from an obviously enlarged, non-tender thyroid.¹ The diagnosis is made clinically along with normal thyroid function.

Euthyroid goitre is most frequently noted at puberty, during pregnancy and at menopause. The cause at these times is usually unclear. Known causes include intrinsic thyroid hormone production defects and, in iodine-deficient countries, ingestion of foods that contain substances that inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis such as raw brassicas e.g. broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage. Other causes include the use of drugs that can decrease the synthesis of thyroid hormone e.g. amiodarone, lithium.

Treatment of euthyroid goitre is directed at the underlying cause, but partial surgical removal may be required for very large goitres. Iodine supplements are not routinely recommended. Advice about adequate iodine intake through dietary measures is appropriate in the majority of cases.

N.B. Measurement of iodine levels to detect deficiency is not recommended.