Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum

• inflammation of subcutaneous fat
• typically causes tender, erythematous, nodular lesions
• usually occurs over shins, may also occur elsewhere (e.g. forearms, thighs)
• usually resolves within 6 weeks
• lesions heal without scarring

• infection
  • streptococci
    Erythema nodosum can be caused by streptococcal infection
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    Importance: 70
  • tuberculosis
    TB is a cause of erythema nodosum
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    Importance: 99
  • brucellosis
• systemic disease
  • sarcoidosis
    sarcoidosis
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  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • Behcet's
• malignancy/lymphoma
• drugs
  • penicillins
  • sulphonamides
  • combined oral contraceptive pill
• pregnancy
  Erythema nodosum may be caused by pregnancy
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  Importance: 80

• chest x-ray
  Chest x-ray should be done in all patients with erythema nodosum
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  Importance: 98
  (to assess for sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, other pulmonary infections, and lymphoma)
• Throat swab for Group A strep
• FBC, CRP

Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum

This patient developed erythema nodosum secondary to streptococcal infection

Close-up of an erythema nodosum lesion

Example of erythema nodoum in an individual with darker skin