Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CONTRIBUTORS
- PREFACE
- Chap. 1 CELL INJURY AND CELL DEATH
- Chap. 2 CLEAN AND ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE AT THE BEDSIDE
- Chap. 3 NEW ANTIMICROBIALS
- Chap. 4 IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THE “BIOLOGICS” IN CUTANEOUS EMERGENCIES
- Chap. 5 CRITICAL CARE: STUFF YOU REALLY, REALLY NEED TO KNOW
- Chap. 6 ACUTE SKIN FAILURE: CONCEPT, CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CARE
- Chap. 7 CUTANEOUS SYMPTOMS AND NEONATAL EMERGENCIES
- Chap. 8 NECROTIZING SOFT-TISSUE INFECTIONS, INCLUDING NECROTIZING FASCIITIS
- Chap. 9 LIFE-THREATENING BACTERIAL SKIN INFECTIONS
- Chap. 10 BACTEREMIA, SEPSIS, SEPTIC SHOCK, AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME
- Chap. 11 STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME
- Chap. 12 LIFE-THREATENING CUTANEOUS VIRAL DISEASES
- Chap. 13 LIFE-THREATENING CUTANEOUS FUNGAL AND PARASITIC DISEASES
- Chap. 14 LIFE-THREATENING STINGS, BITES, AND MARINE ENVENOMATIONS
- Chap. 15 SEVERE, ACUTE ADVERSE CUTANEOUS DRUG REACTIONS I: STEVENS–JOHNSON SYNDROME AND TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS
- Chap. 16 SEVERE, ACUTE ADVERSE CUTANEOUS DRUG REACTIONS II: DRESS SYNDROME AND SERUM SICKNESS-LIKE REACTION
- Chap. 17 SEVERE, ACUTE COMPLICATIONS OF DERMATOLOGIC THERAPIES
- Chap. 18 SEVERE, ACUTE ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS I: URTICARIA, ANGIOEDEMA, MASTOCYTOSIS, AND ANAPHYLAXIS
- Chap. 19 SEVERE, ACUTE ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS II: OTHER HYPERSENSITIVITIES AND IMMUNE DEFECTS, INCLUDING HIV
- Chap. 20 GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE
- Chap. 21 ERYTHRODERMA/EXFOLIATIVE DERMATITIS
- Chap. 22 ACUTE, SEVERE BULLOUS DERMATOSES
- Chap. 23 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF PURPURA AND VASCULITIS, INCLUDING PURPURA FULMINANS
- Chap. 24 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS AND THEIR COMPLICATIONS
- Chap. 25 SKIN SIGNS OF SYSTEMIC INFECTIONS
- Chap. 26 SKIN SIGNS OF SYSTEMIC NEOPLASTIC DISEASES AND PARANEOPLASTIC CUTANEOUS SYNDROMES
- Chap. 27 BURN INJURY
- Chap. 28 EMERGENCY DERMATOSES OF THE ANORECTAL REGIONS
- Chap. 29 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND OTHER GENITOURETHRAL DISORDERS
- Chap. 30 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SKIN DISORDERS: HEAT, COLD, ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT INJURIES
- Chap. 31 ENDOCRINOLOGIC EMERGENCIES IN DERMATOLOGY
- Chap. 32 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF SKIN TORTURE AND SELF-INFLICTED DERMATOSES
- Chap. 33 SKIN SIGNS OF POISONING
- Chap. 34 DISASTER PLANNING: MASS CASUALTY MANAGEMENT
- Chap. 35 CATASTROPHES IN COSMETIC PROCEDURES
- Chap. 36 LIFE-THREATENING DERMATOSES IN TRAVELERS
- Index
- References
Chap. 21 - ERYTHRODERMA/EXFOLIATIVE DERMATITIS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CONTRIBUTORS
- PREFACE
- Chap. 1 CELL INJURY AND CELL DEATH
- Chap. 2 CLEAN AND ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE AT THE BEDSIDE
- Chap. 3 NEW ANTIMICROBIALS
- Chap. 4 IMMUNOMODULATORS AND THE “BIOLOGICS” IN CUTANEOUS EMERGENCIES
- Chap. 5 CRITICAL CARE: STUFF YOU REALLY, REALLY NEED TO KNOW
- Chap. 6 ACUTE SKIN FAILURE: CONCEPT, CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CARE
- Chap. 7 CUTANEOUS SYMPTOMS AND NEONATAL EMERGENCIES
- Chap. 8 NECROTIZING SOFT-TISSUE INFECTIONS, INCLUDING NECROTIZING FASCIITIS
- Chap. 9 LIFE-THREATENING BACTERIAL SKIN INFECTIONS
- Chap. 10 BACTEREMIA, SEPSIS, SEPTIC SHOCK, AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME
- Chap. 11 STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME
- Chap. 12 LIFE-THREATENING CUTANEOUS VIRAL DISEASES
- Chap. 13 LIFE-THREATENING CUTANEOUS FUNGAL AND PARASITIC DISEASES
- Chap. 14 LIFE-THREATENING STINGS, BITES, AND MARINE ENVENOMATIONS
- Chap. 15 SEVERE, ACUTE ADVERSE CUTANEOUS DRUG REACTIONS I: STEVENS–JOHNSON SYNDROME AND TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS
- Chap. 16 SEVERE, ACUTE ADVERSE CUTANEOUS DRUG REACTIONS II: DRESS SYNDROME AND SERUM SICKNESS-LIKE REACTION
- Chap. 17 SEVERE, ACUTE COMPLICATIONS OF DERMATOLOGIC THERAPIES
- Chap. 18 SEVERE, ACUTE ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS I: URTICARIA, ANGIOEDEMA, MASTOCYTOSIS, AND ANAPHYLAXIS
- Chap. 19 SEVERE, ACUTE ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS II: OTHER HYPERSENSITIVITIES AND IMMUNE DEFECTS, INCLUDING HIV
- Chap. 20 GRAFT VERSUS HOST DISEASE
- Chap. 21 ERYTHRODERMA/EXFOLIATIVE DERMATITIS
- Chap. 22 ACUTE, SEVERE BULLOUS DERMATOSES
- Chap. 23 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF PURPURA AND VASCULITIS, INCLUDING PURPURA FULMINANS
- Chap. 24 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS AND THEIR COMPLICATIONS
- Chap. 25 SKIN SIGNS OF SYSTEMIC INFECTIONS
- Chap. 26 SKIN SIGNS OF SYSTEMIC NEOPLASTIC DISEASES AND PARANEOPLASTIC CUTANEOUS SYNDROMES
- Chap. 27 BURN INJURY
- Chap. 28 EMERGENCY DERMATOSES OF THE ANORECTAL REGIONS
- Chap. 29 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND OTHER GENITOURETHRAL DISORDERS
- Chap. 30 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SKIN DISORDERS: HEAT, COLD, ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT INJURIES
- Chap. 31 ENDOCRINOLOGIC EMERGENCIES IN DERMATOLOGY
- Chap. 32 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF SKIN TORTURE AND SELF-INFLICTED DERMATOSES
- Chap. 33 SKIN SIGNS OF POISONING
- Chap. 34 DISASTER PLANNING: MASS CASUALTY MANAGEMENT
- Chap. 35 CATASTROPHES IN COSMETIC PROCEDURES
- Chap. 36 LIFE-THREATENING DERMATOSES IN TRAVELERS
- Index
- References
Summary
AN EXTREME STATE of skin irritation resulting in extensive erythema and/or scaling of the body in several skin disorders may ultimately culminate in erythroderma/exfoliative dermatitis. Largely, it is a secondary process; therefore, determining its cause is needed to facilitate precise management. Its clinical pattern is fascinating and has been the subject of detailed studies: Its changing scenario in various age groups, its presentation postoperatively, and its occurrence in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals are vivid indicators. Several factors may be responsible for the causation of this extensive skin disorder. A detailed outline of a patient's history to elicit possible triggering events, namely, infection, drug ingestion, topical application of medicaments, and sun/ultraviolet light exposure, among other factors. It is also challenging to manage the condition, because the intricate process puts an extensive strain on an already compromised body system. In addition, the original dermatosis may be masked by extensive erythema/scaling, thus making it difficult to obtain a clear-cut diagnosis. Its intriguing clinical expression in neonates/infants and children poses a serious emergent challenge for its life-threatening overture.
DEFINITION
Erythroderma and exfoliative dermatitis are largely synonymous; however, erythroderma is the preferred term and is currently in vogue. The former is characterized by extensive and pronounced erythema, coupled with perceptible scaling, whereas the latter is conspicuous by the presence of widespread erythema and marked scaling. Accordingly, 90% or more skin-surface involvement is considered as a salient prerequisite to make a clinical diagnosis of exfoliative dermatitis.
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- Emergency Dermatology , pp. 202 - 214Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011