Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Part 32

(_Synonym:_ Acne Keloid.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 29. Dermat.i.tis Papillaris Capillitii.]

Describe dermat.i.tis papillaris capillitii.

This is a peculiar, mildly inflammatory, sycosiform, keloidal, acne-like disease of the hairy border of the back of the neck, often extending upward to the occipital region; partaking, especially later in its course, somewhat of the nature of keloid. Several or more acne-like lesions, papular and pustular, closely grouped or bunched, appear, developing slowly, usually to the size of peas; are red, pale red, or whitish, often enveloping small tufts of hair, and attended with more or less hair loss. Its course is gradual and persistent. It is an exceedingly rare condition, the exact nature of which is still obscure.

Give the treatment.

Treatment, which is usually unsatisfactory, consists of stimulating applications--the same, in fact, as employed in sycosis, sulphur and ichthyol deserving special mention. Depilation is essential.

Impetigo Contagiosa.

Give a descriptive definition of impetigo contagiosa.

Impetigo contagiosa is an acute, contagious, inflammatory disease, characterized by the formation of discrete, superficial, flat, rounded, or ovalish vesicles or blebs, soon becoming vesico-pustular, and drying to thin yellowish crusts.

Upon what parts does the eruption commonly appear?

Upon the face, scalp, and hands, and exceptionally upon other regions.

Describe the symptoms of impetigo contagiosa.

One, several or more small pin-head-sized papulo-vesicles or vesicles make their appearance, usually upon the face and fingers. In the male adult the region of the neck and beard is a favorite situation. They increase in size by extending peripherally, but are more or less flattened and umbilicated, and are without conspicuous areola. The lesions may attain the size of a dime or larger, and when close together may coalesce and form a large patch. In some cases distinct blebs result, and a picture of pemphigus eruption presented; it is probable that many of the cases of "contagious pemphigus" belong to this cla.s.s.

New lesions may appear for several days, but finally, in the course of a week or ten days, they have all dried to thin, wafer-like crusts, of a straw or light-yellow color, but slightly adherent, and appearing as if stuck on; these soon drop off, leaving faint reddish spots, which gradually fade. In some cases there is so decided a tendency to clear and dry up centrally while spreading peripherally that the eruption has a ring-like aspect; this seems especially so in the bearded region of the male adult.

Instead of presenting as described, it may occur as one or more pea- or finger-nail-sized, rounded and elevated, usually firm, discrete pustules, scattered over one part, or more commonly over various regions, such as the face, hands, feet and lower extremities. The pustules are such from the beginning, and when developed are usually of the size of a pea or finger-nail, elevated, semi-globular or rounded, with somewhat thick and tough walls, and of a whitish or yellowish color; at first there may be a slight inflammatory areola, but as the lesion matures this almost, if not entirely, disappears. The pustules show no disposition to umbilication, rupture or coalescence; drying in the course of several days or a week to yellowish or brownish crusts, which soon drop off, leaving no permanent trace. This variety was formerly thought to be a distinct disease, and was described under the name of _impetigo simplex_.

As a rule there are no const.i.tutional symptoms, but in the more severe cases the eruption may be preceded by febrile disturbance and malaise.

Itching may or may not be present.

State the cause of the disease.

It is contagious, the contents of the lesions being inoculable and auto-inoculable. At times it seems to prevail in epidemic form. Pyogenic microorganisms are now regarded as causative. A relationship to vaccination has been alleged by some observers. It is more commonly observed in infants and young children.

From what diseases is impetigo contagiosa to be differentiated?

From eczema, pemphigus, and ecthyma.

How does impetigo contagiosa differ from these several diseases?

By the character of the lesions, their growth, their superficial nature, their course, the absence of an inflammatory base and areola, the thin, yellowish, wafer-like crusts, and usually a history of contagion.

State the prognosis.

The effect of treatment is usually prompt. The disease, indeed, tends to spontaneous disappearance in two to four weeks; in exceptional instances, more especially in those cases in which itching is present, the excoriations or scratch-marks become inoculated, and in this way it may persist several weeks.

What is the treatment of impetigo contagiosa?

Treatment consists in the destruction of the auto-inoculable properties of the contents of the lesions; this is effected by removing the crusts by means of warm water-and-soap washings, and subsequently rubbing in an ointment of ammoniated mercury, ten to twenty grains to the ounce. Some cases respond more rapidly to the use of a drying ointment, such as La.s.sar's paste, with ten to twenty grains of white precipitate or sulphur to the ounce. In itching cases, a saturated solution of boric acid, or a carbolic-acid lotion, one to two drachms to the pint, is to be employed for general application.

Impetigo Herpetiformis.

Describe impetigo herpetiformis.

Impetigo herpetiformis is an extremely rare disease, observed usually in pregnant women, and is characterized by the appearance of numerous isolated and closely-crowded pin-head-sized superficial pustules, which show a decided disposition to the formation of circular groups or patches. The central portion of these groups dries to crusts, while new pustules appear at the peripheral portion. They tend to coalesce, and in this manner a greater part of the whole surface may, in the course of weeks or months, become involved. Profound const.i.tutional disturbance, usually of a septic character, precedes and accompanies the disease; in almost every instance a fatal termination sooner or later results.

It is possibly a grave type of dermat.i.tis herpetiformis.

Ecthyma.

Give a descriptive definition of ecthyma.

Ecthyma is a disease characterized by the appearance of one, several or more discrete, finger-nail-sized, flat, usually markedly inflammatory pustules.

Describe the symptoms and course of ecthyma.

The lesions begin as small, usually pea-sized, pustules; increase somewhat in area, and when fully developed are dime-sized, or larger, somewhat flat, with a markedly inflammatory base and areola. At first yellowish they soon become, from the admixture of blood, reddish, and dry to brownish crusts, beneath which will be found superficial excoriations. The individual pustules are usually somewhat acute in their course, but new lesions may continue to appear from day to day or week to week. As a rule, not more than five to twenty are present at one time, and in most cases they are seated on the legs. More or less pigmentation, and sometimes superficial scarring, may remain to mark the site of the lesions.

Itching is rarely present, but there may be more or less pain and tenderness.

What is the cause of ecthyma?

It is essentially a disease of the poorly cared-for and ill-fed; the direct exciting cause is the introduction of pyogenic microorganisms into the follicular openings. It is closely allied to impetigo contagiosa, and may in fact be regarded as a markedly inflammatory form of the latter affection. It seems much less contagious, however. It is commonly observed in male adults.

From what diseases is ecthyma to be differentiated?

From impetigo contagiosa, and the flat pustular syphiloderm.