Erythroderma
Pronunciation: eh-rith-roh-DUR-mah
Generalised, widespread reddening affecting 90% or more of the body surface area, representing a dermatological emergency with systemic implications.
Full Definition
Erythroderma, sometimes termed exfoliative dermatitis, describes an intense, diffuse inflammatory erythema covering nearly the entire skin surface. It may arise from pre-existing dermatoses (e.g., psoriasis, eczema), drug reactions, lymphoma (particularly Sézary syndrome), or be idiopathic. In editorial practice, 'erythroderma' should not be used interchangeably with 'erythema,' which implies localised or mild redness. Case reports and discharge summaries describing this condition should be reviewed for accurate body-surface-area percentages. The term is uniformly lower case except at sentence start.
Usage
Usage note: Reserve 'erythroderma' for near-total-body involvement (≥90% BSA). Do not substitute for 'widespread erythema.'
In Context
- "The patient presented with erythroderma, requiring urgent admission for fluid and temperature management." — Hospital admission summary
- "Editors should ensure 'erythroderma' is not used loosely to describe any extensive rash." — Journal copy-editing guideline