ERYTHEMA NODOSUM ASSOCIATED WITH STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES INFECTION IN A CHILD

Abstract

Erythema nodosum (EN) is a poly-etiological disease with an acute flow that is characterized by symmetric emergence of pain-ful nodules often in pretibial areas. A twenty-month-old male child was admitted to hospital for evaluation of the eruptive skin changes in the lower extremities and forearms. The disease began 10 days before getting febricity and loose stools. The laboratory analysis showed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukocytosis. Blood cultures demonstrated the presence of coagu-lase-negative Staphylococcus, while Proteus vulgaris was iso-lated in urine cultures. After initiation of the empiric antibiotic therapy and then, the targeted antibiotic therapy according to the antibiogram, there was a significant improvement in a general condition and regression of cutaneous lesions. Erythema nodo-sum in the present case, is the result of staphylococcal bacteremia although Proteus vulgaris cannot be excluded as a cause.