Pennsylvania residents should be aware of the great differences that lie between psoriasis and pustular psoriasis. The former is a chronic skin condition that results in patients having red patches of skin with a scaly appearance. With pustular psoriasis, patients develop white, pus-filled blisters surrounded by red skin.
For various reasons, pustular psoriasis is a more serious condition. One type of pustular psoriasis is called palmoplantar pustulosis and appears on the hands and feet, causing pain to patients whenever they walk or use their hands. Another kind appears all over the body and is called generalized pustular psoriasis. Many patients with GPP experience fevers, a rapid pulse and increased white blood cell counts, which may require them to be hospitalized right away.
A dermatologist can treat pustular psoriasis in multiple ways. Where the pustules are in a specific area, a topical treatment using steroid creams or ointments may work. For GPP, patients may require systemic therapy. Those who are hospitalized usually undergo electrolyte monitoring.
Pustular psoriasis can be triggered by a number of things. Certain medications may lead to a flare-up as can pregnancy, overexposure to UV light and emotional stress. Though infections are another potential cause, the pustules themselves are not the result of infection and should not be seen as contagious.
Pustular psoriasis is frequently misdiagnosed, too, which means that it could become the subject of a medical malpractice claim. Doctors who fail to live up to an objective standard of care may ignore certain symptoms or fail to request further testing. The delay in diagnosis may cause the condition to worsen. Victims of malpractice might be reimbursed for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses. They may want to leave the settlement negotiations to a lawyer.