Erythromelalgia in a child - successful treatment with sodium nitroprusside

We describe a 6 years old boy with symmetrical burning pain of feet and hands accompanied by local edema and arterial hypertonia. The symptoms were worsened by exposure to heat or exercise. Application of cold or elevation of the extremities relieved the painful sensations. In the absence of a primary disorder like autoimmune diseases or thrombocytosis, this rare disorder is classified as primary erythromelalgia/erythermalgia. Discussion: Etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are not well understood. In our ca se, the symptoms improved during therapy with prostaglandin El and disappeared while treated with sodium nitroprussid. Only the knowledge of this rare disease can prompt diagnosis and treatment.