Blastomycetic Dermatitis.

Blastomycetic Dermatitis.

What do you understand by blastomycetic dermatitis?

Blastomycetic dermatitis is a rare disease beginning usually as a small papule or nodule, enlarging slowly, breaking down and developing into a verrucous or papillomatous-looking area, similar in appearance

to tuberculosis cutis verrucosa. A muco-purulent or purulent secretion can visually be pressed out from between the papillomatous elevations. It may also present the appearance of a serpiginous lupus vulgaris or syphiloderm. As a rule it is slow in its course. Furuncular or abscess-like formations may develop, usually from secondary infection. The disease is due to the invasion of the cutaneous tissues by the blastomyces.

Treatment consists in administration of moderate to large doses of potassium iodide, and in the employment of antiseptic and parasiticide applications; usually, however, radical treatment, such as employed in lupus vulgaris, may be necessary.