Erythromelalgia

What it means

Recurrent episodes of redness, burning pain, and warmth of the extremities following exposure to heat or exercise with symptoms predominantly involving the feet.

Warmth, ambulation, physical exercise, sitting, leg dependence and wearing shoes or gloves can provoke and aggravate symptoms while immersion in ice/cold water, uncovering affected areas, ventilation and elevation can ameliorate these symptoms. Pain attacks usually start with an itchy-like feeling and then progress to a severe burning sensation as was reported by most patients, with the durations of which ranging from several minutes to hours and even days. Erythromelalgia can be a Mendelian trait or can be triggered by polycythemia vera, lymphoproliferative disorders, hypertension, and hyperviscosity.

Rare diseases that can present with this7

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category