Clinical reference

Pityriasis rosea

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources4 sources

BAD Patient Information Guidelines · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Respiratory System 2026 (cetirizine monograph) · Calamine Lotion BP SmPC sections 4.1-4.2 (eMC product 4822) · Pityriasis rosea - disease-level clinical article (pityriasis-rosea-full.txt)

Verified against3 documents

Calamine Lotion BP SmPC sections 4.1-4.2 (eMC product 4822)
Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Respiratory System 2026 (cetirizine monograph)
Pityriasis Rosea - disease-level clinical article (pityriasis-rosea-clinical.txt)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (6)

A herald (mother) patch is followed by an eruption of scaly plaques arranged along skin cleavage lines in a Christmas-tree pattern. [plaques · rash · scaling]
Itching is severe in about a quarter of patients, and the herald patch appears in 50 to 90 percent, mostly on the trunk. [itching]
A prodrome of sore throat, GI upset, fever, or joint pain often comes before the rash appears. [fever · joint pain · rash · sore throat]
More than 80% of patients see the 5-week rash clear by the 8-week mark. [rash]
It is acute and self-limiting, and the lesions are raised and scaly together [scaling]
It reaches the upper arms and thighs as well, not the trunk alone

Signs — what you find (2)

A distinctive collarette scale is peripherally attached but lifts free near the center of each lesion.
The rash follows the skin's natural tension lines and is spread bilaterally over the trunk. [rash]

Tests (2)

Dermoscopy shows a yellow background, scale arranged at the periphery, and scattered dotted vessels.
Biopsy shows superficial perivascular dermatitis with focal mounded parakeratosis and epidermal spongiosis.

If not this — what else fits (3)

Erythema multiforme is set apart on biopsy by satellite cell necrosis - lymphocytes attached to necrotic keratinocytes - which true PR lacks.
A follicular-pattern eruption raises follicular lichen planus, keratosis pilaris, or atopic dermatitis with follicular involvement.
Some cases never show a herald patch at all, so its absence does not exclude the diagnosis

SourceStatPearls "Pityriasis Rosea" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

REFERRAL & SAFETY-NETTING (NO DRUG THERAPY)

1st line

Dose source

Pityriasis Rosea - disease-level clinical article (pityriasis-rosea-clinical.txt)

Why

Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.

Cautions

RED FLAG - Seek medical attention for severe itching, pain, or fever.

CETIRIZINE

add-on - not a substitute

Strength10 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

10 mg once daily orally for moderate to severe itch

Paediatric dose

(Child 2-5 years: 2.5 mg twice daily; 6-11 years: 5 mg twice daily; >=12 years: 10 mg once daily)

Dose by age
2 to under 6 years:	2.5 mg twice daily
6 to under 12 years:	5 mg twice daily
12 years and over:	10 mg once daily

Dose source

Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Respiratory System 2026 (cetirizine monograph)

Why

Adjunctive oral antihistamine for intense pruritus

Cautions

May cause mild drowsiness in susceptible individuals.
Known hypersensitivity to cetirizine, levocetirizine, hydroxyzine, or any component of the formulation.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
EPIRIZINE 10 MG 10 TABS.	EIPICO	15.50 EGP (1.55/unit)
CETRITIN 10MG 20 TAB.	EL NILE.	42.00 EGP (2.10/unit)
TOMAZINE 10MG 30 F.C. TABS.	ALFACURE PHARMACEUTICALS	63.00 EGP (2.10/unit)
CETRAK 10 MG 20 TABS.	PHARCO	68.00 EGP (3.40/unit)
HISTAZINE-1 10 MG 20 TABS.	AMRIYA	68.00 EGP (3.40/unit)
ZYRTEC 10 MG 20 TAB.	GLAXO SMITHKLINE	100.00 EGP (5.00/unit)
CETRICHEW 10MG 20 CHEWABLE F.C. TABS.	AL ROWAD PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIAL CO.	15.00 EGP
HISTA CHEW 10 MG 20 CHEWABLE TAB.	ARAB CAPS > ADVOCURE	15.00 EGP
LERGFREE 5MG/5ML SYRUP 120ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solid	DEBEIKY	9.00 EGP
EPIRIZINE 5MG/ML SYRUP 60 ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solid	EIPICO	19.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.