Clinical Presentation and Management of Sweet Syndrome: A Case Report
Sweet syndrome, medically known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare dermatological condition categorized among the neutrophilic dermatoses. It is defined histopathologically by the presence of dense neutrophil infiltrates within the tissue. Clinically, the syndrome manifests as the sudden appearance of painful, erythematous papules or plaques. These lesions typically appear asymmetrically on the face, neck, upper trunk, and hands. The condition is often accompanied by systemic symptoms, including fever and significant leukocytosis with neutrophilia.
The precise etiology of Sweet syndrome remains uncertain, though current research suggests the pathogenesis is driven by cytokines that facilitate the chemotaxis and activation of neutrophils and histiocytes. It is widely believed to be an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction triggered by antecedent factors, such as upper respiratory tract infections, paraneoplastic processes, or the introduction of certain pharmaceutical agents. Accurate diagnosis is essential because the condition requires the exclusion of underlying systemic illnesses, such as occult malignancies, which may manifest as atypical skin lesions on the back of the hands.
