Erythema Nodosum Symptoms, Causes, and Care

Erythema nodosum disease progresses both internally and externally. It is possible to notice red lumps and rash in several damaged areas. As a rule, those are the lower extremities, especially knees. The lumps quickly become rather sensitive and cause itchy and painful feeling. The worst thing is that nodules can become rather large in short period, which makes this sort of skin’s rash even more troublesome.

Even when these lumps are gone, the bruised look will stay. They are usually burning/inflaming, especially when the disease reaches its peak. The cases of chronic erythema nodsum are known when the person suffers from the lumps and nodules periodically for the interval of several weeks up to several months. It is not necessary that a previous disease should have taken place.

Causes of erythema nodosum: bacterial infections, fungal infections, enteropathies, drugs, Behçet disease, sarcoidosis. Doctors name a streptococcal infection the most widespread source of the problem. At the same time, grown-ups suffer from the similar problem, known as sarcoidosis supported by the same infection which attacks childish organism. Tuberculosis is another famous predecessor of erythema nodosum. As for the fungal infections, it is important to recall Coccidioidomycosis.

In the world, it is also called San Joaquin Valley fever sometimes. Damages usually may be seen in three days up to three weeks once the fever steps back. Health care professionals recommend avoiding everything that contains sulfonamides and halide. The patient may fight chronic ulcerative colitis for about five years before it transfers/progresses into erythema nodosum. It is dangerous as it may lead to the inflammation of the bowel. Lymphoma is another common cause of the disease. Sarcoidosis is known to provoke more than 20% of the cases.

First of all, it is important to keep in mind several possible outcomes of the erythema nodosum. Be ready that the damaged zones (closer to your knees) will be inflamed and burning for weeks or even months. It will cause certain pain and discomfort, especially at night. The skin will become rather tender. Once being raised and burning, the lumps than decrease, and the ache is gone. The overall look is bruised. Usually, the rash is gone without special efforts, but recommended drugs and treatment can speed up the process.

Some nodules/lumps may arise whenever they want in chaotic manner and order. It is hard to predict when these visual symptoms will go away. The chronic form of this disease is more annoying as it may continue for several years. Extra treatment is required then.To sum up, the most common traits of this problem are: tenderness, sensitivity, reddish spots and inflaming lumps, pain in the knees, barely developing visual signs.

It is comparatively easy to diagnose this disease as the signs are visual and cover specific regions of the body (the area in front of and behind the knee. Anyway, it is important to see the health care provider to detect the problem accurately as well as learn about the causes mentioned above. The initial procedure to pass is a special physical test aimed to define the nature of the lumps and nodules. Health care providers should pay attention to the distribution and progress of skin lesions, their color, shape, and the condition of joints.

Mind that hilar lymph nodes might show up and progress as a result of the hypersensitivity reaction of the organism which is fighting the disease. Even if the symptoms are obvious, it is still recommended to run a biopsy. The doctor then takes a tiny part of the infected body surface to test closely. Without this process, it is difficult to make a final conclusion.

As far as the nature of erythema nodosum is rather harmful to skin’s appearance, patients do everything possible to fully recover and look fine again. It is critical to identify the underlying problem unless the disease is chronic. Determine the character of the skin lesions or leave it to a doctor. He will then prescribe the necessary medicine. Two most popular approaches to curing erythema nodosum include: anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone (taken by mouth or via injection).

The second type of treatment was developed to take care of the inflammation processes by minimizing them. It is important to select a treatment based on the individual symptoms and causes. Mind that this disturbing health condition has no danger for the internal parts of the body, so there is no need to panic. When choosing the treatment, focus on the specific type of the skin.