This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Onset of skin symptoms may be sudden or gradual.

  • patients usually present with an intensely pruritic, skin eruptions
    • pruritus is often the predominant symptom
      • intense itch of DH result in vigorous scratching and extensive excoriation which frequently destroys areas of vesicles/blisters and leaves behind erosions
    • lesions consist of small papules or vesicles, which are often grouped together on erythematous patches of skin - as those of the true herpes virus, hence the name 'herpetiformis.'
    • small blisters are rarely seen since they are rapidly excoriated, leaving raw papules.
  • skin lesions are symmetrically distributed and characteristically seen on extensor surfaces of limbs (classically the knees and just below the elbows), scalp, scapula, and natal cleft sparing the mucosae (1,2).

Several atypical presentations of DH have been reported e.g. -

  • purpuric lesions resembling petechiae on hands and feet
  • leukocytoclastic vasculitis-like appearance
  • palmo-plantar keratosis
  • wheals of chronic urticaria
  • lesions mimicking prurigo pigmentosa (3)

About 90% of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis will have a gluten enteropathy (1).

  • only few are symptomatic. They may complain of :
    • fatigue
    • abdominal discomfort and bloating
    • diarrhoea or constipation
    • weight loss
    • pale stools that float on the surface of the toilet pan (1)

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.