Pemphigus
An uncommon but serious skin disease, pemphigus is characterized by large water blisters called bullae. Although a majority of the patients have been thought to be Jewish, the disease has been seen in various other population groups as well, especially Greek, Italian, Arab, and East Indian.
The Danger: Untreated, pemphigus is fatal.
Symptoms: Blisters appearing on the mouth rupture quickly, leaving an eroded and quite painful base. Blisters on the rest of the body usually break, leaving areas of denuded raw skin. Anemia is a usual symptom. Untreated, death can come from secondary bacterial infection of the lesions or septicemia from these infections. Severe protein loss also occurs because of the loss of body fluids into the blisters.
Treatment: Steroid therapy and/or antimetabolite drugs, if started early, seem to be the only medication that can arrest the progress of pemphigus. Prolonged treatment with steroids is a risk, but there is no alternative therapy for this disease. Often steroids can effect a complete cure; however, the more likely prospect is control not cure of the disease.
Colostomy Bag
