ERYTHEMA-NODOSUM IN CHILDREN - A STUDY OF 27 PATIENTS

Erythema nodosum (EN) seems to occur in children more rarely than in a dults. It still remains the most frequent acute panniculitis, for whic h the diagnosis is almost always clinical. In a retrospective study of 27 pediatric patients, we have attempted to clarify the clinical spec trum and prognosis of this disease and discuss the differential diagno sis of nodular eruptions on the lower limbs of children. In almost hal f the patients of our series, the cause of EN remained undetermined. S treptococcal infections (usually of the pharynx) were the most common cause of EN in children (22% of patients in our series), followed by Y ersinia infection in about 15% of patients. Tuberculosis, an important cause in the past, was never found, but must always be excluded. A be nign course was noted in all patients. Erythema nodosum is easily reco gnized clinically, but other subcutaneous lesions, especially nodular vasculitis and Schonlein-Henoch purpura, have to be excluded by pathol ogic study, in cases of atypical presentation or long duration.