- skin biology
- signs and symptoms
- investigations
- conditions and diseases
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Erythema Nodosum
- epidemiology
- signs and symptoms
- diagnosis
- pathophysiology
- causes and risk factors
- treatments
- course
- patient education
- community resources
- references
EN is the most common form of panniculitis, inflammation affecting subcutaneous fat lobules or the connective etissue separating them.
Epidemiology
Signs and Symptoms
Subcutaneous non-ulcerative nodules are present on extensor surfaces - usually the shins but sometimes the arms.
They are:
- poorly defined
- very painful
- often felt better than seen
fever, malaise, and joint pain may accompany.
Over weeks, lesions usually flatten and become bruise-like, leaving no residual scar.
Diagnosis
Pathophysiology
Causes and Risk Factors
Many times the causes cannot be identified.
Erythema nodosum may be caused by various agents:
- infection: Strep throat, tuberculosis, systemic fungal infections, Yersinia
- inflammation: sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease
- drugs: sulfonamides, oral contraceptives
- malignancy: lymphoma
Treatments
treat symptoms with NSAIDs
Course
Patient Education
Community Resources