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Pustule

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Pustule, Hemorrhagic Pustule, Necrotic Pustule

  • See Also
  1. Palm and Sole Pustules
  2. Neonatal Pustules and Vessicles
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Typically develop from Vesicles or bullae that fill with pus, or from Hair Follicles or Sweat Glands
    1. May also spontaneous form a non-follicular Pustule
  • Description
  1. Raised, translucent superficial, circumscribed skin lesion
  2. Contains purulent exudate (white, orange, yellow, green)
  3. Follicular Pustules are conical with hair in center
    1. Non-follicular Pustules vary in shape
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Hemorrhagic Pustules (or Necrotic Pustules)
  1. Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (esp. Palm and Sole Pustules)
  2. Septic Shock (with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)
  3. Disseminated Nocardia
  4. Pyoderma Gangrenosum
  5. Smallpox
  6. Ecthyma gangrenosum
  • Labs
  1. Gram Stain and culture of pustular discharge (exclude Disseminated Gonorrhea)
  • Examples
  1. Drug Eruption
  2. Acne Vulgaris
  3. Generalized Pustular Psoriasis syndrome
  4. Viral vessicular eruptions may develop into Pustules (e.g. varicella, Herpes Zoster virus, Herpes Simplex Virus)