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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffSweet's syndrome is uncommon, but certain factors increase your risk, including:
- Your sex. Women are more likely to have Sweet's syndrome than men.
- Your age. Though older adults and even infants can develop Sweet's syndrome, the condition mainly affects women between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Cancer. Sweet's syndrome is sometimes associated with cancer, most often leukemia. A few cases may be associated with a solid tumor, such as breast or colon cancer.
- Other health problems. Sweet's syndrome often follows an upper respiratory infection, and many people report having flu-like symptoms before the rash appears. Sweet's syndrome can also be associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
- Pregnancy. Some women develop Sweet's syndrome during pregnancy. In these cases, the condition usually clears without treatment.
References
- Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=740. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- Moschella SL. Neutrophilic dermatoses. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
- Saag KG, et al. Major side effects of systemic glucocorticoids. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Oct. 15, 2012.
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