RT Book, Section
A1 Grant-Kels, Jane Margaret
A1 Fedeles, Flavia
A1 Rothe, Marti J.
A2 Goldsmith, Lowell A.
A2 Katz, Stephen I.
A2 Gilchrest, Barbara A.
A2 Paller, Amy S.
A2 Leffell, David J.
A2 Wolff, Klaus
SR Print(0)
ID 56027262
T1 Chapter 23. Exfoliative Dermatitis
T2 Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8e
YR 2012
FD 2012
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-166904-7
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56027262
RD 2024/04/20
AB |PrintExfoliative  Dermatitis  at  a  GlanceExfoliative  dermatitis  (ED)  is  defined  as  diffuse  erythema  and  scaling  of  the  skin  involving  more  than  90%  of  the  total  body  skin  surface  area.Systemic  and  potentially  life-threatening  complications  include  fluid  and  electrolyte  imbalance,  thermoregulatory  disturbance,  fever,  tachycardia,  high-output  failure,  hypoalbuminemia,  and  septicemia.Common  underlying  etiologies  are  psoriasis,  atopic  dermatitis,  and  other  spongiotic  dermatoses,  drug  hypersensitivity  reactions,  and  cutaneous  T-cell  lymphoma  (CTCL).  The  cause  of  ED  is  unknown  (idiopathic)  in  approximately  20%  of  cases.Diagnostic  workup  includes  a  complete  history  and  physical  examination,  with  careful  analysis  of  pertinent  clinical  clues  and  dermatohistopathology.  Other  laboratory  workup  is  often  required  and  determined  by  clinical  clues.Management  of  ED  involves  combining  symptomatic  relief  with  addressing  the  underlying  etiology  and  potential  systemic  complications.  Inpatient  hospitalization  is  required  in  acute  cases.Prognosis  is  variable  and  depends  primarily  on  the  underlying  etiology.  Drug-induced  ED  has  the  best  prognosis  while  malignancy-associated  ED  has  the  highest  mortality.