Duke Doctors Diagnose Rare Sweet ’s Syndrome

Treatment TermsDermatology Author Shawn Lake Overview Greg Cannon saw more than 15 doctors near his hometown of Valdese, GA and was hospitalized twice with puzzling symptoms before Duke Health dermatologists confirmed he had a rare condition called subcutaneous Sweet ’s syndrome. Their knowledge and expertise helped Cannon find relief from the painful symptoms and enjoy life once again. Hero Imagecannon_skin_001.jpg Preview Image Content Blocks Header Cycles of Fever and Pain ContentThe first sign something was wrong came on a hot autumn day in 2013. Cannon was at an Atlanta Braves game with his wife Linda, when, he recalled, “She looked at me and said, ‘Are you OK?’ I was burning up with fever.”The fever came and went over the next few months, as did a painful, purple rash on his back and legs. “I’d have a flare up, get a little better and think it was on its way out. Then it would start all over again,” he said.Each episode, Cannon ’s symptoms worsened. His fever climbed, his joints were stiff, he felt sluggish and miserable. Even the bottoms of his feet hurt. One time his hand swelled so much that he went to his local hospital emergency department, where they cut off his rings to restore circulation to his fingers. He was i n that hospital for four days until steroid medication relieved the swelling.The specialists didn ’t know what was wrong. After enduring a battery of tests and being hospitalized twice, one of his doctors suggeste...
Source: dukehealth.org: Duke Health News - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Source Type: news