Erythema Nodosum - Medtick
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Erythema Nodosum

What is it?

A skin condition where red lumps form and is due to the inflammation of the deeper portions of the skin (the adipose tissue, or fatty layer of skin.

  • It can occur on its own (30-50% cases) or due to:
    • Infections
    • Underlying medical conditions
    • Medications

Common areas include:

  • Shins
  • Knees, ankles, or thighs
  • Forearms
  • Face and neck

Age Groups and Gender

  • It occur between the ages of 20 and 45, with a peak from 20 to 30.
  • It is more common in women than men.

How long the condition may last

Individual nodules of erythema nodosum usually last from 1–2 weeks, but new lesions may continue to appear for up to 6 weeks.

  • When an individual lesion of erythema nodosum has resolved, it may leave behind a temporary bruise, which subsequently fades to normal-appearing skin.

Skinsight

  • An active disease can last up to 18 weeks
  • Unknown causes can last longer than six months.
  • Treatment is to treat the symptoms and find the underlying condition.

Cause

Medication:

Symptoms

  • Initially bright red (first ten days) and then turn purple (bruise –like appearance) over a couple of weeks?
  • Red lumps (two lumps to 50 lumps, normally 6-12 lumps on front and side of location?
  • Lumps can be size of 1–10 cm?
  • Nodules hot and Painful?
  • New red lumps and nodules appearing?
  • Some lumps merge and form rings which then spread and then fade?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C, 100°F or over greater than 72hours, chills and sweats when red lumps first occur?
  • Joint pain especially knee joints?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness for some weeks?
  • Swelling in area for weeks?
  • Swollen sticky eye (conjunctivitis)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition could indicate an underlying disease:

This condition can have similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Erythema Nodosum in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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