Erythema nodosum in children

Abstract

Erythema nodosum, which is often associated with infectious diseases, is one of the rare skin manifestations in the practice of pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists. Purpose. The purpose was to study the clinical and laboratory manifestations of erythema nodosum in children. Material and methods. The study included 17 children with erythema nodosum aged 2 to 17 years who were hospitalized at the City Children’s Hospital No. 1 of Kazan. Results. In 6 (35 %) children, elevated values of antistreptolysin-O were detected, in 5 (29 %) — high titers of antibodies to Salmonella, in 2 (12 %) cases — IgM to Chlamidia pneumonia, in 2 (12 %) other children — IgM to capsid antigen of EBV, in one case (6 %) — IgM to Mycoplasma pneumonia. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level was observed in 15 (88 %) and 12 (70 %) children, respectively. In 12 (70 %) of 17 children, increased level of soluble fibrin-monomer complex was detected in the blood. Conclusion. Erythema nodosum in children in most cases is associated with streptococcal infection and salmonellosis. The immune-inflammatory process in erythema nodosum is accompanied with an increase in the level of soluble fibrin-monomer complex in the blood.