Erythroderma - Symptoms & Treatment

Erythroderma, is a skin infection characterized by intense, extensive reddening of the skin. It is also identified as erythrodermatitis, widespread exfoliative dermatitis, and red man syndrome. It may arise by excessive ultraviolet revelation or as a complication of topical therapy or systemical viral or bacterial disease. In psoriatic erythroderma, the skin is nearly totally involved, with deep erythema, exfoliation, and related abnormalities of temperature and cardiovascular regulation. Erythroderma is often related with the defeat of hair and nails, hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, and pruritus. Erythroderma can occur from a variety of causes, most often as an addition of a pre-existing skin disorder.

Erythroderma may also be because of an adverse drug reaction. Erythroderma generally occurs in persons older than 40 years and more males are pretentious than females. It frequently develops gradually, but may be serious. Prognosis of erythroderma depends on the underlying sickness process. If erythroderma is the effect of a generalised spread of a primary skin disorder for instance psoriasis or dermatitis, it usually clears with appropriate treatment of the skin disease but may recur at any time. Erythroderma is a severe disease and most patients need hospitalization to reinstate fluid and electrolyte balance, circulatory condition and body temperature.

Causes of Erythroderma

Some causes & risk factors of Erythroderma are as follows:

• Dermatitis mainly atopic dermatitis.
• Diseases of the blister, for instance - pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid.
• Low calcium diet.
• Bacterial or viral infectivity eg. streptococcal infections - tonsillitis, sinusitis.
• Various skin disorders similar to eczema, hodgkin's disease, leukemia etc.
• Drinking lots of alcohol daily.

Symptoms of Erythroderma

The Possible Symptoms of Erythroderma includes:

• Red skin patches.
• Hypothermia.
• Feeling cold - even though having a fever.
• Cardiac failure, elevated output.
• Fluid filled blisters.
• Skin thickening, peeling. flaking.

Treatment of Erythroderma

Some most common treatment related to Erythroderma are as follows:

• Systemic steroids may be cooperative in a few cases (not in the case of psoriasis).
• Emollients are very efficient for the treatment of erythroderma.
• A sedative antihistamine may be a valuable for itchy patients.
• Antimicrobial agents often are used if an illness is assumed to be precipitating or complicating erythroderma.
• Bed rest is occasionally important.
• Low-dose of methotrexate, ciclosporin or acitretin may also be valuable for the treatment of erythroderma.