Acrodermatitis

Acrodermatitis
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Dermatology
Symptoms	Rash, inflammation of the skin, itching
Complications
Onset
Duration
Types	N/A
Causes	Viral infection, autoimmune disorder
Risks
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, skin biopsy
Differential diagnosis	Psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis herpetiformis
Prevention
Treatment	Topical corticosteroids, antihistamines, antiviral medication
Medication
Prognosis	Generally good with treatment
Frequency
Deaths

Other names

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome

Clinical features

Gianotti Crosti syndrome (GCS) is a rare childhood skin condition characterized by a papular rash with blisters on the skin of the legs, buttocks, and arms.

Age of onset

It typically affects children between 9 months and 9 years of age.

Signs and symptoms

• Skin lesions typically last at least 10 days and often last for several weeks.
• The lesions are usually preceded by an underlying infection (usually a virus), which may cause associated symptoms such as low-grade fever, sore throat, or symptoms of an upper respiratory infection.
• When GCS is associated with hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, acute hepatitis may also occur.
• GCS is thought to be a hypersensitive response to the underlying infection.

Cause

• While in many countries the underlying cause is hepatitis B, this is rarely the cause in North America.
• In Italian children, Gianotti-Crosti syndrome is seen frequently with hepatitis B. But this link is rarely seen in the United States.
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, mononucleosis) is the virus most often associated with acrodermatitis.

Pathophysiology

• Gianotti Crosti syndrome (GCS) is thought to be due to a hypersensitive response to a previous infection.
• The underlying infection tends to correlate with the infectious agent endemic to a specific geographic region.
• For example, in Japan and Mediterranean countries, GCS is more commonly associated with hepatitis B virus infection.
• Since there is more universal use of hepatitis B immunization, Epstein-Barr virus is now the most common associated infection worldwide.
• GCS may also occur after coxsackievirus, infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus infections, ECHO viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or after vaccination with a live virus serum.
• In most cases, no laboratory tests are needed when a person is diagnosed with GCS.

Treatment

• GCS typically does not require treatment and goes away on its own within 1 to 3 months.
• In some cases, a mild topical steroid cream may be prescribed to relieve itching.
• Infections linked with this condition, such as hepatitis B and Epstein-Barr, are treated.
• Cortisone creams and oral antihistamines may help with itching and irritation.

Prognosis

The rash usually disappears on its own in about 3 to 8 weeks without treatment or complication. Associated conditions must be watched carefully.

Complications

Complications occur as a result of associated conditions, rather than as a result of the rash.

Other names

• Papular acrodermatitis of childhood;
• Infantile acrodermatitis;
• Acrodermatitis - infantile lichenoid;
• Acrodermatitis - papular infantile;
• Papulovesicular acro-located syndrome