The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2014 , Vol 56 , Num 2
Erythema Nodosum in Children: Evaluation of 39 Patients
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children’s Training and Research Hospital, Ankara,
Turkey. E-mail: turkanteke@gmail.com
Erythema nodosum (EN) has been associated with various infectious and
noninfectious diseases. A total of 39 EN patients seen between May 2005 and
February 2012 were evaluated retrospectively in this study. The etiology of
EN was established in 22 of the 39 children (56.4%). Streptococcal infection
was the most common cause (23%), followed by tularemia (10.2%) and
tuberculosis (latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) 5%, pulmonary tuberculosis
2.5%). Miscellaneous conditions were as follows: Behçet disease (2.5%),
cytomegalovirus (CMV) (2.5%), Giardia lamblia infection (2.5%), and sarcoidosis
(2.5%). Four cases had double diagnoses as follows: streptococcal infection
plus Mycoplasma pneumoniae, streptococcal infection plus LTBI, streptococcal
infection plus Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and tularemia plus LTBI. Streptococcal
infections are the most common causative factors of EN among children in
our setting. In some cases, either of two diagnoses may induce EN. Etiologic
factors should be investigated for the diagnosis and specific treatment of the
underlying diseases.
Keywords :
erythema nodosum, evaluation, etiology, children.