Erythema

General description of the disease

This is a reddening of the skin or an abnormal rash caused by a strong blood flow to the capillary vessels of the skin.

The nature of erythema:

• Physiological – redness or rash appears as a result of experiencing various emotions and states (anger, shame, embarrassment), massage, exercise or other factors. It goes away on its own, after a short period of time and does not pose any threat to health and does not indicate serious disorders in human health.
• Not physiological – already carries a threat and is a separate disease (reddening of the skin has been observed for a long time and is of an inflammatory nature).

The causes of non-physiological erythema:

1. 1 Infectious nature: the presence of viruses and infections in the body (measles, scarlet fever, mononucleosis, herpes), dermatitis, connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus), the presence of diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis.
2. 2 Non-infectious: occurs as a reaction of the body to mechanical or thermal effects, due to the intake of medications.

Types and symptoms of infectious erythema

• Rosenberg’s erythema – high school students, young boys and girls, up to 23-25 ​​years old are in danger. Symptoms of this type of erythema begin quickly. In the first days of the disease, severe headaches, pains in joints and muscles, accompanied by fever, occur, insomnia is observed. After these manifestations, a rash begins to appear after a few days (it is located asymmetrically on the flexion-flexion areas of the skin of the legs and arms, sometimes on the mucous membrane of the mouth and on the buttocks). The average duration of the illness is up to a week (maximum two), the rash begins to disappear on the 5th day of illness. After the rash comes off, the skin begins to flake off (husk in the form of small plates).
• Erythema Chamera… The causative agent is pravovirus, for which a third of the healthy population has antibodies that can fight it themselves (which is why in most people this form of erythema can proceed without any manifestations). Mostly children are ill, from the first days of the disease a rash appears on the face, which eventually merges into one spot. It can affect the skin of the legs, arms, trunk. After a few days after the rash, the spot turns pale pink, then disappears completely. The course of the disease is mild, with no increase in temperature. The rash should completely disappear within 14 days.
• Erythema nodosum – the main symptom is the appearance of nodules under the skin of the legs, forearms (they are dense, painful to the touch, ranging in size from 1 to 10 centimeters, swelling may occur in their place). Concomitant symptoms include headaches, fatigue, general malaise, lethargy. It can be both an independent disease (mainly due to the presence of streptococci, the use of contraceptives and sulfonamides), or be the main symptom of tuberculosis or rheumatism. It can proceed for 2 weeks or even several months (it all depends on the level of immunity and the cause).
• Polyform exudative erythema… Otherwise they call her multiforme… It starts abruptly with an increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees, severe aching pains in muscle tissue throughout the body. After that, an abundant rash in the form of multiple papules filled with a clear liquid is located on the skin (the rash itches and itches a lot). Also, blisters may be added to the rash, which burst and ulcers form in their place. If treated incorrectly, there may be complications in the form of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (blisters appear on the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, genital area) or Layell’s syndrome (the rash begins to turn into large flat blisters filled with serous fluid). In half of the patients, the cause of the disease has not been reliably determined. In certain cases, the cause is herpes, scarlet fever, measles, penicillin, sulfonamides, and seizure medications.
• Sudden erythema – begins abruptly with a rise in temperature to 40, chills, weakness, enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes. On the 4th day, the temperature should return to normal. After that, a papular rash appears throughout the body, which grows together and creates an erythematous field.
• Erythema migrans – in most cases, it is a sign of Lyme disease, a rapidly growing annular redness develops at the site of the tick bite, which does not respond to treatment. It disappears over time by itself. Dangerous for pregnant women and their fetus.

Types and symptoms of non-infectious erythema

1. 1 X-ray – from prolonged or repeated exposure to X-rays a week after contact with electromagnetic waves, at the site of irradiation, a red rash appears in the form of a spot, which turns brown as it heals. Then it begins to peel off and disappears altogether.
2. 2 Thermal (infrared) – small red spots or rashes appear in places affected by heat radiation (occurs as a reaction of the body to mechanical damage preceding a burn).
3. 3 Towering (persistent) – Allergic vasculitis, which occurs in two forms: symptomatic (an allergic reaction to medication or as a symptom of polyarthritis), idiopathic (inherited, manifests itself in the form of small purple nodules).

Attention!

The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!