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William A. Primack, MD; John R. Person, MD
Auburn Fallon Medical Center 35 Millbury St Auburn, MA 01501

Arch Dermatol. 1985;121(3):309-310.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor—

Coin rubbing, or cao gío', is a common practice in Vietnam and among Vietnamese immigrants^1,2 as a folk remedy for fever, headaches, and other symptoms, mainly in children.² Oil is first massaged onto the back and chest, and the skin is stroked with the edge of a coin vertically and/or along the ribs, until purpura appears.² We recently had the opportunity to observe this condition (Figure). A fever is supposed to break when the purpura resolves. Copper coins, it is claimed, are most effective.

The reports of coin rubbing have appeared in the pediatric literature, where it has been called pseudobattering to distinguish the linear purpura from true child abuse.^1,2 Rasmussen³ mentioned coin rubbing in his recent review of "puzzling purpuras" in children. The condition is only

Linear purpura from coin rubbing. likely to be seen incidentally by a dermatologist, however, as . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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