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Painful rash and swelling of the limbs after recurrent infections in a teenager: Polyarteritis nodosa
Author(s) -
Klusmann Anne,
Megahed Mosaad,
Kruse Roland,
Schneider Matthias,
Schmidt Klaus G.,
Niehues Tim
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1080/08035250600791704
Subject(s) - medicine , rash , erythema nodosum , polyarteritis nodosa , dermatology , kawasaki disease , differential diagnosis , vasculitis , erythema , skin biopsy , biopsy , disease , pathology , surgery , artery
Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare disease in childhood and adolescence that is difficult to diagnose clinically. We report on a 17‐y‐old girl presenting with a history of recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctivitis followed by a painful rash on the upper and lower extremities resembling erythema nodosum. The diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa was proven by skin biopsy. Therapy with intravenous immunoglobulins failed, but with systemic steroids she responded promptly. Conclusion : Polyarteritis nodosa is a differential diagnosis in adolescents presenting with fever and an erythema nodosum‐like rash.