Erythema Nodosum
erythema /er·y·the·ma/ (er″ĭ-the´mah) redness of the skin due to congestion of the capillaries.erythem´atouserythe´mic
erythema nodosum,
Definition
Erythema nodosum is a skin disorder characterized by painful red nodules appearing mostly on the shins.
Description
Erythema nodosum is an eruption of tender red lumps on both shins and occasionally the arms and face. Bruising often accompanies the nodule formation. Erythema nodosum is most prevalent in young adults.
Causes and symptoms
Erythema nodosum can be caused by many important and treatable diseases. Among them are tuberculosis, several fungal lung infections, leprosy, inflammatory bowel disease, and some potentially dangerous bacterial infections. Drugs can also induce erythema nodosum. The most common are penicillin, sulfonamides, and birth control pills.
Diagnosis
There are a few other skin eruptions that mimic erythema nodosum, so the physician may have to perform a biopsy to sort them out. There are a few types of panniculitis, fat inflammation, that may signal a cancer somewhere in the body, and there are other kinds of inflammation that may confuse the diagnosis.
Once the skin problem has been diagnosed, its underlying cause must then be identified. A lengthy evaluation may ensue, and often times the cause remains unknown.
Treatment
Painful nodules can be treated with mild pain killers and local application of ice packs. Medical attention will be directed toward the underlying disease.
The nodules will eventually disappear, leaving no trace behind.
Resources
Books
Bennett, J. Claude, and Fred Plum, editors. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co., 1996.
Key terms
Biopsy — Surgical removal of tissue for diagnostic purposes.
Panniculitis — Inflammation of fatty tissue.
erythema /er·y·the·ma/ (er″ĭ-the´mah) redness of the skin due to congestion of the capillaries.erythem´atouserythe´mic
erythema annula´re a type of erythema multiforme with ring-shaped lesions.
erythema annula´re centri´fugum a chronic variant of erythema multiforme usually affecting the thighs and lower legs, with single or multiple erythematous-edematous papules that enlarge peripherally and clear in the center to produce annular lesions that may coalesce.
erythema chro´nicum mi´grans an annular erythema due to the bite of a tick (Ixodes); it begins as an erythematous plaque several weeks after the bite and spreads peripherally with central clearing. See also Lyme disease, under disease.
cold erythema a congenital hypersensitivity to cold seen in children, characterized by localized pain, widespread erythema, occasional muscle spasms, and vascular collapse on exposure to cold, and vomiting after drinking cold liquids.
epidemic arthritic erythema Haverhill fever.
erythema indura´tum chronic necrotizing vasculitis, usually occurring on the calves of young women; its association with tuberculosis is in dispute.
erythema infectio´sum a mildly contagious, sometimes epidemic, disease of children between the ages of four and twelve, marked by a rose-colored, coarsely lacelike macular rash and caused by human parvovirus B19.
erythema i´ris a type of erythema multiforme in which the lesions form concentric rings, producing a target-like appearance.
erythema margina´tum a type of erythema multiforme in which the reddened areas are disk-shaped with elevated edges.
erythema mi´grans
erythema multifor´me a symptom complex with highly polymorphic skin lesions, including macular papules, vesicles, and bullae; attacks are usually self-limited but recurrences are the rule.
erythema nodo´sum an acute inflammatory skin disease marked by tender red nodules, usually on the shins, due to exudation of blood and serum.
erythema nodo´sum lepro´sum a form of lepra reaction occurring in lepromatous and sometimes borderline leprosy, marked by the occurrence of tender, inflamed subcutaneous nodules; the reactions resemble multifocal Arthus reactions.
toxic erythema , erythema tox´icum a generalized erythematous or erythematomacular eruption due to administration of a drug or to bacterial toxins or other toxic substances.
erythema tox´icum neonato´rum a self-limited urticarial condition affecting infants in the first few days of life.
erythema no·do·sum (n -d s m)n. A skin disease associated with joint pain, fever, hypersensitivity, or infection, and characterized by small, painful, pink to blue nodules under the skin and on the shins that tend to recur. |
erythema nodosum,
a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by reddened, tender subcutaneous nodules on the extensor aspects of the extremities, such as the shins. The nodules last for several days or weeks, never ulcerate, and are often associated with mild fever, malaise, and pain in muscles and joints. This condition may accompany streptococcal infections, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, drug sensitivity, ulcerative colitis, and pregnancy. The prognosis is good with appropriate treatment of the underlying condition. A course of corticosteroids is usually effective in diminishing the symptoms.
erythema
redness of the skin caused by congestion of the capillaries in the lower layers of the skin. It occurs with any skin injury, infection or inflammation.
erythema ab igne
that due to exposure to radiant heat.
erythema chronicum migrans
the early skin rash at the site of the tick bite which infects humans with Borellia burgdorferi (Lyme disease); rarely seen in dogs.
erythema multiforme
a disease of unknown etiology, but is sometimes drug-related; presumed to be immune-mediated. It occurs in all species and is characterized by an acute onset of erythematous macules, papules, vesicles or bullae. There may also be fever, depression and anorexia.
erythema multiforme major
a rapidly fulminating, ulcerative form of erythema multiforme with involvement of oral mucosa and systemic signs.
necrolytic migratory erythema
in humans, a skin disease associated with glucagon-secreting tumors of the pancreas. The same association has not been observed in dogs, but disease of the liver and pancreas is often present. There are vesicles and crusted, ulcerated lesions, mainly on the face, mucocutaneous areas, distal limbs and feet.
erythema nodosum
a rare disorder in dogs characterized by fever, depression, arthralgia and septal panniculitis.
toxic erythema, erythema toxicum
a generalized erythematous or erythematomacular eruption due to administration of a drug or to bacterial toxins or other toxic substances.
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