| Eosinophilic cellulitis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Wells' syndrome, recurrent granulomatous dermatitis with eosinophilia [1] |
 | |
| Initial rash in eosinophilic cellulitis | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Painful, red, raised, warm patches of skin, fever, joint pain [2] |
| Usual onset | Sudden and recurrent [2] |
| Duration | Few weeks [2] |
| Causes | Unknown [2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Vasculitis, cellulitis, anaphylaxis [2] [1] |
| Medication | Corticosteroids, antihistamines [2] [1] |
| Prognosis | Often goes away by itself [2] |
| Frequency | ~200 documented cases [1] |
Eosinophilic cellulitis, also known as Wells' syndrome (not to be confused with Weil's disease), is a skin disease that presents with painful, red, raised, and warm patches of skin. [2] The rash comes on suddenly, lasts for a few weeks, and often repeatedly comes back. [2] Scar formation does not typically occur. [1]
Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. [2] It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. [2] It may be triggered by bites from insects and arachnids such as spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. [2] Diagnosis is made after other potential cases are ruled out. [1] Skin biopsy of the affected areas may show an increased number of eosinophils. [2] Other conditions that may appear similar include cellulitis, contact dermatitis, and severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. [2]
Treatment is often with a corticosteroids. [2] Steroids applied as a cream is generally recommended over the use of steroids by mouth. [3] Antihistamines may be used to help with itchiness. [1] Many times the condition goes away after a few weeks without treatment. [2] The condition is uncommon. [1] It affects both sexes with the same frequency. [2] It was first described by George Crichton Wells in 1971. [1] [4]
Cause
Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. [2] It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. [2] It may be triggered by bites from insects such as mosquitos, [5] spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. [2]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires ruling out other potential causes. [1] This includes ruling out vasculitis on skin biopsy. [1]
Treatment
Treatment is often with a steroids. [2] This can be either applied as a cream or taken by mouth. [3] As the condition tends to get better on its own taking steroids by mouth should generally only be tried if the rash covers a large area and it does not get better with other measures. [3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Weins, AB; Biedermann, T; Weiss, T; Weiss, JM (October 2016). "Wells syndrome". Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 14 (10): 989–993. doi: 10.1111/ddg.13132. PMID 27767278.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Familial Eosinophilic Cellulitis - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Räßler, F; Lukács, J; Elsner, P (September 2016). "Treatment of eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells syndrome) - a systematic review". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 30 (9): 1465–79. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13706. PMID 27357601. S2CID 206043169.
- ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- ^ Tatsuno K, Fujiyama T, Matsuoka H, Shimauchi T, Ito T, Tokura Y (June 2016). "Clinical categories of exaggerated skin reactions to mosquito bites and their pathophysiology". Journal of Dermatological Science. 82 (3): 145–52. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.04.010. PMID 27177994.
External links
- DermNet NZ Archived 2015-08-22 at the Wayback Machine entry
| Eosinophilic cellulitis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Wells' syndrome, recurrent granulomatous dermatitis with eosinophilia [1] |
|
| |
| Initial rash in eosinophilic cellulitis | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Painful, red, raised, warm patches of skin, fever, joint pain [2] |
| Usual onset | Sudden and recurrent [2] |
| Duration | Few weeks [2] |
| Causes | Unknown [2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Vasculitis, cellulitis, anaphylaxis [2] [1] |
| Medication | Corticosteroids, antihistamines [2] [1] |
| Prognosis | Often goes away by itself [2] |
| Frequency | ~200 documented cases [1] |
Eosinophilic cellulitis, also known as Wells' syndrome (not to be confused with Weil's disease), is a skin disease that presents with painful, red, raised, and warm patches of skin. [2] The rash comes on suddenly, lasts for a few weeks, and often repeatedly comes back. [2] Scar formation does not typically occur. [1]
Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. [2] It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. [2] It may be triggered by bites from insects and arachnids such as spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. [2] Diagnosis is made after other potential cases are ruled out. [1] Skin biopsy of the affected areas may show an increased number of eosinophils. [2] Other conditions that may appear similar include cellulitis, contact dermatitis, and severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. [2]
Treatment is often with a corticosteroids. [2] Steroids applied as a cream is generally recommended over the use of steroids by mouth. [3] Antihistamines may be used to help with itchiness. [1] Many times the condition goes away after a few weeks without treatment. [2] The condition is uncommon. [1] It affects both sexes with the same frequency. [2] It was first described by George Crichton Wells in 1971. [1] [4]
Cause
Eosinophilic cellulitis is of unknown cause. [2] It is suspected to be an autoimmune disorder. [2] It may be triggered by bites from insects such as mosquitos, [5] spiders, fleas, or ticks, or from medications or surgery. [2]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis requires ruling out other potential causes. [1] This includes ruling out vasculitis on skin biopsy. [1]
Treatment
Treatment is often with a steroids. [2] This can be either applied as a cream or taken by mouth. [3] As the condition tends to get better on its own taking steroids by mouth should generally only be tried if the rash covers a large area and it does not get better with other measures. [3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Weins, AB; Biedermann, T; Weiss, T; Weiss, JM (October 2016). "Wells syndrome". Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 14 (10): 989–993. doi: 10.1111/ddg.13132. PMID 27767278.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Familial Eosinophilic Cellulitis - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Räßler, F; Lukács, J; Elsner, P (September 2016). "Treatment of eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells syndrome) - a systematic review". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 30 (9): 1465–79. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13706. PMID 27357601. S2CID 206043169.
- ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
- ^ Tatsuno K, Fujiyama T, Matsuoka H, Shimauchi T, Ito T, Tokura Y (June 2016). "Clinical categories of exaggerated skin reactions to mosquito bites and their pathophysiology". Journal of Dermatological Science. 82 (3): 145–52. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.04.010. PMID 27177994.
External links
- DermNet NZ Archived 2015-08-22 at the Wayback Machine entry