Ah! You’re asking about Sweet Syndrome — also called acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. Here’s a clear overview:
🌡️ What is Sweet Syndrome?
Sweet Syndrome is a rare inflammatory skin condition characterized by sudden onset of painful skin lesions, fever, and other systemic symptoms.
It’s called “neutrophilic dermatosis” because it involves accumulation of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, in the skin.
🔹 Causes / Triggers
Sweet Syndrome can occur in several contexts:
- Idiopathic (unknown cause) – most cases.
- Associated with infections – like respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.
- Associated with cancers – especially blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma).
- Drug-induced – certain medications can trigger it, e.g., some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs.
- Inflammatory diseases – autoimmune or inflammatory bowel disease.
🔹 Symptoms
- Sudden, painful red or purple bumps or nodules on skin, usually on arms, face, neck, or upper body
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue or malaise
- Joint pain or swelling in some cases
- Eye inflammation (rare)
Lesions may look like pimples or abscesses but are not infectious.
🔹 Diagnosis
- Clinical exam – characteristic skin lesions + fever
- Blood tests – elevated white blood cell count, especially neutrophils
- Skin biopsy – shows dense neutrophilic infiltration without infection
🔹 Treatment
- Corticosteroids – usually the first-line treatment (oral or IV), very effective
- Non-steroidal options – colchicine, dapsone, or potassium iodide if steroids are contraindicated
- Treat underlying cause – e.g., infection, drug trigger, or cancer
⚠️ Complications
- Rarely, systemic involvement can affect eyes, lungs, or kidneys
- Recurrence can happen if the trigger persists
✅ Key Takeaways
- Sweet Syndrome is treatable and usually responds rapidly to steroids
- Early diagnosis is important, especially to rule out underlying cancers
- Skin lesions are inflammatory, not infectious — so antibiotics usually don’t help
If you want, I can make a “quick recognition guide” for Sweet Syndrome so you know the signs and when to seek medical care.
Do you want me to do that?
