Dermographism in Infant/Neonate
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

Dermographism is an abnormal wheal and flare reaction in the skin induced by pressure, which develops over minutes and is usually asymptomatic, although some forms are associated with pruritus. Inadvertent stroking or rubbing of the skin will result in corresponding linear wheals. The cause of dermographism is unknown, but clinically it appears similar to urticaria and is seen more frequently in patients with urticaria and atopic dermatitis.
Codes
ICD10CM:
L50.3 – Dermatographic urticaria
SNOMEDCT:
7632005 – Dermographism
L50.3 – Dermatographic urticaria
SNOMEDCT:
7632005 – Dermographism
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Early contact dermatitis may present with linear urticarial lesions.
- Delayed pressure urticaria may develop up to hours after the inciting pressure and is usually painful, while dermographism develops over minutes and is usually asymptomatic or pruritic.
- Acute or chronic urticaria
- Other physical urticarias
- Angioedema
- Urticaria pigmentosa
- Lesions from strongyloidiasis (cutaneous larva currens) may resemble rapidly moving urticarial wheals.
- The early stages of bullous pemphigoid may manifest with urticarial plaques.
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
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References
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Last Reviewed:05/24/2022
Last Updated:05/25/2022
Last Updated:05/25/2022

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