SELF-HEALING JUVENILE CUTANEOUS MUCINOSIS

Background: Mucinoses represent a puzzling and heterogeneous group of rare diseases, and self-healing juvenile cutaneous mucinosis is an extremely rare disease among them. Observations: A scleroedematous condition of the face, associated with papular lesions and arthropathies, had occurred in a 5-year-old boy 10 days after onset of fever, arthralgia, muscle tenderness, and weakness. Results: Histologic examination revealed an edematous dermis, occupied by mucin. Skin lesions and the joint swellings disappeared spontaneously after 2 months. At the follow-up 5 years later, the patient remains in excellent health. Conclusion: Although exceptional, this entity has a well-defined clinical picture, marked by manifestations that are initially worrisome but which, surprisingly, prove to be temporary and benign.