Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook depends on the severity of the illness. Mild forms of epidermolysis bullosa improve with age.
In the severe forms, scarring after blisters form may cause:
-
Contracture deformities (for example, at the fingers, elbows, and knees) and other deformities - Feeding and swallowing difficulties if the mouth and esophagus are involved
- Fused fingers and toes
- Restricted mobility from scarring
Very serious forms of epidermolysis bullosa have a very high mortality rate.
Complications
Anemia - Death (junctional epidermolysis bullosis has a high death rate, but other, milder forms may not reduce life expectancy at all)
Esophageal stricture - Eye disorders, including blindness
- Infection, including
sepsis - Loss of function in the hands and feet
Muscular dystrophy Periodontal disease - Severe malnutrition caused by feeding difficulty, leading to
failure to thrive Squamous cell skin cancer
Calling your health care provider
If your infant has any
Previous Section
Review Date: 10/10/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center
for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
