MUCHA-HABERMANN DISEASE AND ITS FEBRILE ULCERONECROTIC VARIANT

In 1916 Mucha and in 1925 Habermann reported an acute form of pityrias is lichenoides characterized by the abrupt onset of papulovesicular er uptions and gave the name, pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acu ta (PLEVA) or Mucha-Habermann disease (MH). In 1966, Degos reported a rare febrile ulceronecrotic variant of MH. MH occurs mainly in young a dults, while febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann's disease (FUMHD) occurs more frequently in children. The etiology of MH remains obscure , but it may be the result of a hypersensitivity reaction to an infect ious agent. Although clinical and histologic features of the disease i n children are similar to those of adults, more diseases need to be di fferentiated in pediatric patients. In addition, a number of effective therapeutic options in adults with MH are unsuitable for use in pedia tric patients, to whom beginning with oral antibiotics, usually erythr omycin, is recommended. A summary of previously reported fifteen cases with FUMHD, including our case, is listed.