Gloves and socks syndrome, papulopurpuric L23.8

Harms, 1990

Rare (so far about 100 cases in world literature), harmless, acute, acral, self-limiting, feverish, haemorrhagic, spotty virus exanthema (caused by various viruses, including parvovirus B 19), which mainly affects hands and feet.

Viral disease caused by parvovirus B19, possibly in combination with medication. In the vast majority of cases it is a primary infection. Other causative viruses were also found: measles, hepatitis B, Coxsackie B6 or Epstein-Barr and cytomegaloviruses.

Teenagers and young adults (2nd and 3rd decade of life)

Feet and hands (sock- and glove-like); more rarely the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat as well as the knees, elbows, groin, thighs and anogenital region are affected.

Acute, febrile, symmetrical, mainly acral (hands and feet) localized, painful dermatitis with succulent 0.1-0.3 cm large erythema, confluent papules and extensive petechiae. Confluence also results in large patches that extend beyond the wrists and ankles. Less frequently affected are: cheeks, thighs, inguinal region and buttocks. General symptoms are only moderately pronounced: moderate fever up to 39°C, loss of appetite, sore throat, arthralgia, myalgia, lymphadenopathy.

The term "Gloves and Socks" refers to the (apparently always occurring) glove-like or sock-like distribution pattern.

The entity of this polyätiological "reaction pattern" is doubted.

Harmless disease, self-limiting course with healing after 10-14 days.

Apparently, the papupularpurpuric gloves and socks syndrome is an occurring reaction pattern to various viral pathogens and thus shows an analogy to the Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, which is also acrally localized.

1. Feldmann R et al (2015) Purple Gloves and Socks Syndrome. SDDG 13: 1286-1288
2. Harms M (1990) Papular-purpuric "gloves and socks" syndrome. J Am Acad 29: 341-342
3. Martinez-Martinez P et al (2000) Infection by human parvovirus B 19: "gloves and socks" papular purpuric syndrome. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 36: 206-210
4. Van Rooijen MM (1999) Drug-induced papulopurpuric gloves and socks syndrome. dermatologist 50: 280-283