Recurrent prurigo nodularis related to infected tonsils: a case report

Michael Katotomichelakis¹ , Dimitrios G Balatsouras² , Konstantinos Bassioukas³ , Nikolaos Kontogiannis¹ , Konstantinos Simopoulos⁴ and Vassilios Danielides¹

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

²Department of Otolaryngology, Tzanion General Hospital of Piraeus, Greece

³Department of Dermatology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece

⁴Second Department of Surgery, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:243doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-243


Published:	24 July 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Prurigo nodularis is an unusual disorder of unknown aetiology, which is notoriously resistant to therapy, and is characterized by extremely pruritic nodules with well-defined clinical symptoms and histopathological findings.

Case presentation

We report the case of a patient presenting with pruritic papules and nodules on his legs, arms and trunk over the past 4 years, recurring after episodes of acute tonsillitis. Although oral and topical corticosteroids, oral antibiotics and emollients were used in his therapy, only tonsillectomy finally proved the definitive treatment.

Conclusion

We discuss the aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of prurigo nodularis associated with chronic tonsillitis, and we further review the literature on this rare condition.