erythema nodosum - my dd has this, can you help ?

[donnie]

hi Folks,my 2 1/2 year old daughter has been diagnosed with erythema nodosum which is a powerful reaction to a viral or bacterial infection.She is covered in round red spots ( pea sized) and very miserable with temperature, cold etc.The docs say it will pass and isn't anything to worry about but she looks so awful, she is covered in them and they itch.They say to give piriton which we are doing but I just wondered if anyone had any experience or knowledge of this condition, which is apparently quite rare. Thanks in advance.

[CountessDracula]

Donnie I had this on my ankles - can't remember why but I was pretty ill at the time with crohn's disease so it must have been related to that. Acutally maybe it was drug reaction to a sulfa drug. Anyway.... you say she is covered in them, I may be wrong but I thought you only got them on your lower legs. Are they all over her body.

Mine went away but one of them got infected and itched and I picked it so I have a big scar like a giant chicken pox scar on my ankle. The rest of them cleared up no problem.

Have they tested to make sure that this is what they are or was the diagnosis from a visual examination btw?

[CountessDracula]

ps poor her

[CountessDracula]

Here is some good info

[donnie]

thanks a lot countess, that is helpful. I know it is meant to affect the legs only but apparently you can get it all over. They took a throat swab this morning which I hope will reveal a throat infection as otherwise it might be something more serious.The trouble is the more you read on the net the more there is to worry about!sorry to hear you had it too, but you say it cleared up ? how long did it take if oyu dont mind me asking? my poor dd looks like she has been attacked by a swarm of bees! anyhow she isn't too bad in herself but it's reassuring to know of someone else who has had it and is ok, cheers.

[CountessDracula]

Oh goodness I think it took quite a few weeks to go I'm sorry to say It was years ago so I may be wrong, I can't even remember what treatment they gave me, if any. I do remember that it was painful if I knocked any of them against anything so do be careful with her.

If it;s any help I don't remember my doc being at all worried, I know what it's like looking these things up on the web, I always do and end up a paranoid wreck! I really think it will just clear up and go away like mine did. I was on some pretty toxic drugs at the time which could have slowed the healing process too.

I really hope she shows signs of improvement soon - do let me know xx

[CountessDracula]

and from what I remember they were small angry red then purple then black bruises. Oh yeuch! I do feel for her.

[LIZS]

Your poor little dd. dd had it at about 15 months on her face although it only formed on red patch with a thickening of tissue beneath. It didn't cause her any problems but it took over 6 months for the discolouration to fade completely and it was especially noticeable when she was hot or cold. As far as I recall it is a reaction to a virus or infection and pretty unusual, when I posted about it ( Jan 2003, may be in "archives" ) there was very little response !

Hope she feels better soon.

[Sari]

I had this several years back but only on my legs. I had big red lumps which were extremely painful, especially when knocked or even touched. I don't remember them being itchy nor how long they took to go away - definitely weeks, rather than months. I didn't have any treatment for them.

This is not meant to worry you at all, particularly because your GP's not concerned, but because I went to hospital with mine (useless doctor) I ended up having lots of tests. It turned out I had some kind of immune system disorder - never caused me any trouble in the end but I was monitored for a few years. The erythema nodosum wasn't a symptom of that though - just a reaction to being run down etc - so please don't think there's any likelihood of this being what is going on with your daughter.

I really hope she gets better soon.