Sweet's syndrome

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Photograph showing Sweet's syndrome
Sweet's syndrome

Sweet's syndrome — also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis — is a skin condition marked by fever and painful skin lesions that appear mainly on your arms, face and neck.

The exact cause of Sweet's syndrome isn't always known. In some people, it's triggered by an infection, illness or certain medications. Sweet's syndrome can also occur with some types of cancer.

Most often, Sweet's syndrome will clear on its own in a few months or once the underlying cause is resolved or eliminated. Healing is much more rapid with treatment.

References
  1. Farhi D, et al. The neutrophilic dermatoses. Dermatology Nursing. 2008;20:274.
  2. Moschella SL. Neutrophilic dermatoses. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html/. Accessed April 5, 2010.
  3. Sweet's syndrome: A dermatologic condition associated with fever and frequently confused with an infectious process. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennet's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00052-7--s0060&uniq=193269557&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=978680989#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00052-7--s0060%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-443-06839-3. Accessed April 5, 2010.
  4. Cohen PR. Sweet's syndrome — A comprehensive review of an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 2007;2:34.
  5. Franks AG Jr. Skin manifestations of internal disease. Medical Clinics of North America. 2009;93:1265.
  6. Colchicine: Drugdex Evaluations. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed April 5, 2010.
DS00752 June 24, 2010

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