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JAMA Ophthalmology Clinical Challenge
June 2013

Conjunctivitis, Fever, and Tender Skin Nodules—Diagnosis

Author Affiliations
 

SECTION EDITOR: BENNIE H. JENG, MD, MS

JAMA Ophthalmol. 2013;131(6):792-793. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2013.4495b

Diagnosis: Sweet syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis

B. Consult a dermatologist for skin biopsy.

The key clinical features in this case are the abrupt onset of fever, bilateral ocular inflammation nonresponsive to topical steroids, and tender skin nodules in a patient with a known diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Other than allergic or atopic etiologies, the combination of a cutaneous rash with conjunctivitis in adults is uncommon. A skin biopsy by a dermatologist can elucidate the disease process and guide further treatment options.

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