What Caused This Summer Birthday Party Rash?

Discussion Panniculitides are a diverse group of problems involving inflammation of subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat has limited ability to show different patterns of disease and therefore the clinical appearance is the same but has different etiologies. The skin appears red or purple, swollen, may have discrete nodule(s) or plaque(s) and the affected area can be painful or pruritic. If necessary skin biopsy can help determine the etiology. Overall panniculitides are not very common but some presentations are expected because of particular exposure (i.e. cold) or inflammatory disease processes. Types of panniculitides include: Pediatric specific Cold panniculitis – see below Poststeroid pannicuitis – very rare and occurs with infants and children on prolonged systemic corticosteroid treatment after abrupt withdrawal. Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn – occurs in well newborns with an unknown etiology which usually resolves without problems Sclerema neonatorum – rare and occurs in very ill newborns. Many die within a few days and etiology is unknown. Adult-type appearing in children Erythema nodosum – overall the most common panniculitis in children. Seen in boys and children, generally over the age of 2. Causes are the same as adults with Streptococcus and gastrointestinal infections as main causes. Up to 40% may be idiopathic. Connective tissue disorders – Lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa and other s...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news