Two Cases of Bullous Dermatitis Herpetiformis / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Dermatitis herpetiformis occurs rarely in childhood and certain features of the disease in children differ from its manifestation in adults. The eruptions are commonly bullous, show little predilection for the typical regional pattern of the adults, may be nonpruritic, have a shorter course, and often are resistant to the usual therapy. A review of literature shows that in patients over 50 years of age or older the tendency is to manifecst predominantly, although not as strikingly for children, a vesicobullous type of dermatitis herpetiformis with large bullae, varying 1 to 5cm or more in diameter. The authors present two cases of bullous dermatitis herpetiformis confirmed by histology; the first case is a 5 year-old boy who has tense bullae, pustules, and pigmentations on the inguinal region, lower abdomen, buttocks, face, and extensor surfaces of the extremities of 1 yars duration; the second case is a 44 year old housewife who has eruptions of vesicles, bullae, and erosion on the buttccks, back, abdomen, ext;remities, oral cavity, and vulva of 15 days' duration. The authors reviewed the relevant literature and discussed the clinicaI feat ures of both cases thoroughly.