Acrodermatitis

Overview

Acrodermatitis is a childhood skin condition that may be accompanied by mild symptoms of fever and malaise. It may also be associated with hepatitis B and other viral infections.

It is a diffuse chronic skin disease usually confined to the limbs and characterized initially by an erythematous, oedematous, pruritic phase followed by sclerosis and atrophy. It is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi.

Symptoms

  • Rash or patch on skin
  • Brownish-red or copper-colored patch that is firm and flat on top String of bumps may appear in a line Generally not itchy
  • Rash looks the same on both sides of the body
  • Rash may appear on the palms and soles -- it does not occur on the back, chest, or belly area
  • Swelling and tenderness in the abdomen and lymph nodes

Causes

The cause of acrodermatitis is poorly understood, but its link with other infections is well- documented. In Italian children, acrodermatitis is seen frequently with hepatitis B, but this link is rarely seen in the United States. In addition to hepatitis B, acrodermatitis has also been associated with Epstein-Barr virus infections (EBV, mononucleosis), cytomegalovirus, coxsackie viruses, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and some live virus vaccines.

Prevention

Call your health care provider if your child has signs of this condition.

Diagnosis

Your doctor can diagnosed this condition by simply looking at the skin and rash. The liver, spleen, and lymph nodes may be swollen. The following tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions: Skin biopsy Screening for EBV antibodies Liver enzymes (liver function tests) Hepatitis virus serology or hepatitis B surface antigen Bilirubin level.

Prognosis

Acrodermatitis is considered a self-limiting disease that disappears without complication. However, the associated conditions must be watched carefully.

Treatment

Acrodermatitis by itself is not treated. Infections associated with this condition, such as hepatitis B and Epstein-Barr, should be treated appropriately.