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- $Unique_ID{BRK01667}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Causes "Sweet's Syndrome"?}
- $Subject{Sweet's Ill Defined Symptoms symptom Rare Diseases disease Skin
- Subcutaneous Tissue Sweet Syndrome rash acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
- infection eruption hypersensitivity Sweet Syndromes rashes infections
- eruptions breaking out}
- $Volume{N-20, L-20}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- What Causes "Sweet's Syndrome"?
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-
- QUESTION: My daughter (33 years old) broke out with an extremely painful and
- ugly rash. After all the tests and everything was checked, the doctors
- called it "Sweet's Syndrome". Could you please elaborate on this, as no one
- seems to have much information as to why she has it and what causes it? Thank
- you.
-
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-
- ANSWER: Sweet's Syndrome originally described by the physician of that name
- in 1964, also goes by the more scientific name of "acute febrile neutrophilic
- dermatosis". It occurs mostly in women, usually coming on in middle age. An
- infection precedes the eruption of painful plaques on the skin of the limbs
- face, and neck. Later on they can change into a pus filled rash. The cause
- is not well understood, but may be a reaction or hypersensitivity to the germ
- that caused the original infection. Although antibiotics may be used to fight
- the infection, they are not effective in combatting the rash. Steroids
- (cortisone-like medications) can help wipe out the rash for as long as they
- are taken. The condition can last for 2 weeks or more before it runs its
- course, but relapses are frequent, although in each case it is usually
- preceded by another infection.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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-