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Erythromelalgia in a patient with feet erythema and cyanosis
  1. Khaled El Khatib1,
  2. Zeina Gerges2 and
  3. Nagham Azar2
  1. 1Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  2. 2Department of Family Medicine, Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  1. Correspondence to Dr Khaled El Khatib; khaledkme{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Erythromelalgia is a rare disease characterised by a triad of a clinical syndrome of redness, warmth and painful extremities. We present the case of a male adolescent with no prior medical history who presents to our family medicine clinic with a 3-month history of bilateral feet erythema followed by episodes of cyanosis in bilateral toes. Given his history, the findings on clinical examination, and the lack of any pathology on the diagnostic testing, the patient is diagnosed with erythromelalgia. He is then counselled on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for his condition and is discharged on non-pharmacological treatment options such as leg elevation, cooling with a fan and limiting exposure to heat. The patient is also advised to perform an annual complete blood count given the association of erythromelalgia with myeloproliferative disorders.

  • Medical education
  • Preventative pediatrics
  • Pain (neurology)
  • Malignant and Benign haematology

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Footnotes

  • Contributors Corresponding author: KEK. First author: ZG, second author: NA.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.