Inpatient Dermatology and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases: Measles, Varicella, and Beyond

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review Re-emerging infectious diseases are increasingly encountered in the inpatient setting and are important to recognize due to their transmissibility as well as their potential for morbidity and mortality. Inpatient dermatologists are well positioned to recognize cutaneous findings that serve as early diagnostic clues and guide further management. This review provides an up-to-date overview of re-emerging infectious diseases relevant to inpatient dermatology, focusing on vaccine-preventable illnesses, climate change-associated infections, and sexually transmitted infections. Recent Findings Declining vaccination coverage, expanding vector habitats driven by climate change, increased globalization and shifting transmission patterns have contributed to the resurgence of diseases including measles, mpox, dengue, and syphilis. Cutaneous manifestations—ranging from morbilliform eruptions and petechiae to purpura fulminans and pustular dermatoses—often precede or parallel systemic disease and may signal life-threatening complications. Summary As new and re-emerging infectious diseases continue their global spread, inpatient dermatologists play a critical role in identifying characteristic cutaneous findings in medically complex inpatient populations. Timely dermatologic recognition can facilitate earlier diagnosis, prompt isolation, and outbreak containment efforts, representing an important strategy for improving individual outcomes and broader public health surveillance.