Sweet Syndrome is a form of neutrophilic dermatosis. Often this disease is characterized by severe rashes on the skin, which become inflamed and disturb the person. Initially, pale pink plaques may appear, which gradually become brighter. In addition to inflammation, the patient may be disturbed by other symptoms, so you need to know how to get rid of them, as well as how to cure the disease.
What is Sweet Syndrome?
This disease can not be attributed to a number of common diseases that can occur in every second. In fact, this is a rare dermatological disease. The incidence of the disease reaches 9 cases per million.
It is worth noting that people at the age of 55 may be at risk, it is during these years that the disease begins to manifest itself actively, and small children can also be at risk.
Why does the disease occur?
Even when doctors diagnose Sweet syndrome, the doctors will not be able to name the causes of this disease. Studies by scientists indicate that the manifestations of the disease are associated with an immunological reaction of an atypical form. The immune system begins to be stimulated by bacteria and viruses that accumulate in the tissues. After conducting histochemical studies, it was proved that in the plaques that are under the skin when Sweet syndrome develops, the concentration of interleukin increases.
Most often it happens that the disease begins to appear after a person suffers a severe viral infection. Streptococcus can also provoke skin rashes. Additionally, the disease also manifests itself after large tumors in the breast or gastrointestinal tract.
Disease classification
Today, medicine is known for several forms of Sweet syndrome, which you should get acquainted with in more detail:
- The most common is considered to be the classic form, it is observed in 80% of all patients. You can notice changes in the body after suffering acute respiratory infections, ulcerative colitis and a number of other diseases.
- Sweet syndrome, which occurs with paraneoplasia, is quite rare, often this disease can be diagnosed with leukemia or other malignant hematological diseases. It is possible that the disease may manifest itself after recovery.
- The disease can occur as a side effect after certain medications, for example, when taking furosemide, minocycline and hydralazine.
Even less common is Sweet syndrome in children. But regardless of whether the adult is sick or the child, as soon as the first symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Symptoms of the disease
Initially, papules may appear on the human body, which in diameter reach 8 millimeters. The color of the spots can be a bright red hue, and usually they scatter throughout the body. Three days later, a sick person begins to rise in temperature to forty degrees, after which more pain in the joints is added. If the patient does not start treatment, then his condition continues to worsen. If you carefully study the Sweet syndrome, the symptoms can resemble many other skin diseases, so it is necessary to diagnose in order to establish exactly this ailment. It should be noted that the rashes may not itch and not bother the patient at all, but gradually the red plaques will inevitably begin to spread more strongly throughout the body, merging into one common, large spot.
As soon as a person begins to take treatment, the spots will disappear, while the swelling of the skin will decrease and the brightness of the papules will necessarily change. With the attenuation of the inflammation process, pigmented spots may remain at the site of the rash, which will remain for a long time. It happens that even after treatment, relapse occurs.
How to diagnose the syndrome?
The most difficult to diagnose Sweet syndrome in children. Photos of rashes with this disease have similar characteristics with a number of other diseases, so you can’t do without the help of qualified doctors. First of all, the examination should be carried out by a qualified specialist, who will prescribe a general blood test and biochemistry. First of all, it is worth paying attention that all the rashes will necessarily be located symmetrically. The doctor will certainly palpate, since with this method there is a chance to feel a tight formation under the papule, which is indicated by Sweet syndrome. Also, test results may indicate a disease. For example, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:
- A complete blood count will show an increased content of white blood cells and monocytes.
- Biochemical analysis will show an increase in liver enzymes and a decrease in protein.
- A histological examination of the skin tissue will indicate an invariable epidermis, but with the expansion of capillaries.
As soon as the doctor diagnoses and receives all the results, he will be able to prescribe an effective treatment.
Treatment
There is no specific therapy that focuses on treating Sweet syndrome. The treatment is carried out due to anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Prednisolone and Indomethacin. A number of patients noted a positive reaction when using Dapsone.
It is also recommended to use potassium iodide to maintain the body. There are separate glucocorticosteroid creams and ointments. In this case, the treatment may be ten days. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe antibiotics, but such therapy will be effective only if the disease was triggered by yersiniosis. If we consider the treatment regimen in detail, then it may look like this:
- Corticosteroids can quickly improve the condition of the patient, but their dose is gradually reduced over six weeks.
- "Monocycline" is used twice a day, during the time that the doctor will prescribe.
- Potassium iodide is used in a dosage that will be calculated by the doctor.
The specialist can safely prescribe additional drugs that will also have a beneficial effect on the treatment of a disease such as Sweet syndrome. Symptoms and treatment can be completely different and selected on the basis of this, drugs for each person should be individually.
Alternative methods of treatment
Alternative medicine can also successfully affect some unpleasant symptoms in Sweet syndrome. First of all, there is a need to remove swelling, for this, various infusions are used, which can be prepared from a sheet of lingonberry, lemon balm and hawthorn flowers. Like most infusions, the medicine from these herbs is prepared on the water - pour a teaspoon of each ingredient into a glass and pour boiled water. Infusion should be prepared for the day in a thermos. Another effective method is the use of compresses from red beets. The vegetable is rubbed on a grater and applied to a sore spot, a film is placed on top and fixed with an elastic bandage.
Prevention and prognosis
Do not panic after seeing terrifying photos. Sweet Syndrome can be cured and symptoms completely eliminated without further relapse in the future. We can’t say that there are methods for the prevention of this disease, for one simple reason: the disease has not been fully studied and the exact reasons why it can occur are not indicated in medicine.
The prognosis for recovery may be favorable, the rashes will quickly disappear if the correct treatment is applied. There are times when a relapse occurs, but on a different part of the body. Even in such a situation, one should not be very upset, it is necessary to fight the disease.
Do not pay attention to the syndrome in any case, as this can be a signal for contacting an oncologist. The specialist will carry out the necessary diagnostics and will be able to determine the risk of a patient having a malignant tumor. Proper treatment is a prerequisite for a full recovery, so you can’t do without the help of a professional.