What does AGEP look like?

What does AGEP look like?

AGEP is characterized by sudden skin eruptions that appear on average five days after a medication is started. These eruptions are pustules, i.e. small red white or red elevations of the skin that contain cloudy or purulent material (pus).

Is AGEP serious?

AGEP usually shows a mild course but high fever or cutaneous superinfection can complicate the process and lead to severe illness and sometimes life-threatening situations, especially in patients of poor general condition. The reported mortality is under 5% [3,4].

What is a AGEP?

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare, acute eruption characterized by the development of numerous nonfollicular sterile pustules on a background of edematous erythema (picture 1A) [1,2]. Fever and peripheral blood leukocytosis are usually present.

How common is AGEP?

Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe cutaneous adverse reaction and is attributed to drugs in more than 90% of cases. It is a rare disease, with an estimated incidence of 1–5 patients per million per year.

How can you tell the difference between pustular and AGEP psoriasis?

In pustular psoriasis, the rash is usually monomorphic, lasts for a longer period of time and is recurrent. It is less flexural than AGEP. Many times it is associated with arthritis and regresses in a period of 10 to 14 days.

What causes AGEP?

The onset of AGEP is usually within 2 days of exposure to the responsible medication. Viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, enterovirus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus and others) are common triggers of AGEP in children. Spider bites have also been implicated in some cases.

How do you cure AGEP?

How is AGEP managed? Treatment primarily involves withdrawal of the causative medicine. Supportive care in hospital (including fluid and electrolyte replacement) is often required during the acute illness. Moisturisers, topical corticosteroids, oral antihistamines and analgesics may be required for symptomatic relief.

What do pustules look like?

Pustules are small bumps on the skin that contain fluid or pus. They usually appear as white bumps surrounded by red skin. These bumps look very similar to pimples, but they can grow quite big. Pustules may develop on any part of the body, but they most commonly form on the back, chest, and face.

What are mild pustules?

Pustules are small red pimples that have pus at their tips. Nodules are solid, often painful lumps beneath the surface of your skin. Cysts are large lumps found beneath your skin that contain pus and are usually painful.