Causes and risk factors
Sweets syndrome can be caused as a result of cancer such as leukaemia, breast cancer or tumour. It can also be caused due to some medications which are used to increase the WBC count. Risk factors for sweets syndrome are women between ages 30 to 50 years, pregnant women, people with upper respiratory tract infection, sometimes with irritable bowel disease, cancer.
Clinical presentation
Sweets syndrome is characterised by reddish purple papules on arms, face, neck and back. These papules grow and coalesce to form plaques. Skin lesions are accompanied by fever and sometimes upper respiratory tract infection.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the dermatologist helps in diagnosis. Blood test for may be useful for further evaluation. Skin biopsy is done which confirms the diagnosis.
Treatment
In many cases sweets syndrome resolves by itself. Medications like oral or injectable corticosteroid will hasten recovery. Sometimes local applications like creams and ointments for the lesions may help as soothing agents.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating sweets syndrome. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating sweets syndrome.
