Introduction
Acute blistering diseases
Chronic blistering diseases
E-lecture
A blistering disease is a condition in which there are fluid-filled skin lesions.
Acute blistering diseases can be generalised or localised to one body site and are due to infection or inflammatory disorders. Although most commonly eczematous, generalised acute blistering diseases can be life-threatening and often necessitate hospitalisation.
Acute blistering conditions should be investigated by taking swabs for bacterial and viral culture. A skin biopsy may be helpful in making a diagnosis.
Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
Atypical enterovirus infection
Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis
Drug hypersensitivity syndrome
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
Acute dermatitis
Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis
Clears in a few days
Transient acantholytic dermatosis
Trauma
Diagnosis of chronic blistering diseases often requires skin biopsy for histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. A blood test for specific antibodies (indirect immunofluorescence) may also prove helpful in making the diagnosis of an immunobullous disease.
Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus
Other immunobullous diseases
