Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
livedo racemosa
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
livedo racemosa
by Sandra, Sep 11, 2000 12:00AM
My ten year old son was biten by an insect two months ago. The bite became swollen and red. The next day the lesion was not swollen anymore but he had multiple red raised spots on his arms and legs. My doctor told me not to be worried, cause the rash was probably an allergic reaction. A month later we went on vacation and I was still worried because the rash wasn't gone yet. I consulted a doctor again (during vacation) and he prescribed Prednisolone, because he thought it was an allergy also. Within a few days the red-blue raised spots disappeared and I was reliefed. After I stopped given him the Prednisolone the rash came back and this time the red blue raised spots were itching and on his arms, legs and buttock. He has no pain or other symptoms besides the rash I described. When he's sleeping or not moving a lot, the rash seems to fade away a bit. When he's moving a lot the rash tends to get worse. Last week (two months after the insect bite) I took him to a dermatologist and he called the rash LIVEDO RACEMOSA and performed a biopsy. I have an appointment scheduled to discuss the result of the biopsy in about two weeks. Could this be an allergic vasculitis, caused by the insect bite? How should his treatment be? And what are the prognoses? I hope you can give me some clues about what he might have.
Thanks a lot!!
Greetings Sandra
Thanks a lot!!
Greetings Sandra
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 12, 2000 12:00AM
, Sep 12, 2000 12:00AM
Sandra:
A livedoid, or network-like rash, usually has much less significance in a child than in an adult. Your dermatologist correctly wants to rule out vasculitis, though even that condition is not necessarily very serious in a kid. On the other hand, the biopsy may (and probably will) rule out vasculitis, leaving you with a cirious but not very significant situation, which may well require no treatment at all. If I were you, I would hold off worrying a bit, until the biopsy is back. This should take only a few days.
Who said parenting wasn't a challenge?
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
A livedoid, or network-like rash, usually has much less significance in a child than in an adult. Your dermatologist correctly wants to rule out vasculitis, though even that condition is not necessarily very serious in a kid. On the other hand, the biopsy may (and probably will) rule out vasculitis, leaving you with a cirious but not very significant situation, which may well require no treatment at all. If I were you, I would hold off worrying a bit, until the biopsy is back. This should take only a few days.
Who said parenting wasn't a challenge?
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
