PapuleA papule is a small, solid elevation of the skin. In this case the exudation into the skin is of a plastic character; mostly cells with but little fluid effusion - not sufficient, in fact, to produce a vesicle. A papule may disappear in a few days by absorption of the exudation, or may be gradually converted into a pustule; or may undergo ulcera-tion, or may even persist without alteration almost indefinitely.
The principal diseases in which papules are found, and their chief features are: - Acne; Papules of varying size, chiefly met with on the face, shoulders, back, and chest, and frequently changing into pustules.
- Erythema multiforme; Grouped papules, most frequent on the extremities.
- Eczema; Scattered, or more or less closely aggregated, on the arms, inside of thighs, and elsewhere, frequently accompanied with scratch-marks.
- Lichen simplex; Scattered papules, frequently met with over the entire surface.
- Lichen planus; Flat, umbilicated papules, greatly resembling those of a papular syphilide.
- Lupus; Persistent and gradually increasing in size; becoming tubercles, usually on the face.
- Milium; Minute white papules on the eyelids and contiguous skin.
- Molluscum contagiosum; Umbilicated papules containing a cheesy matter which may be pressed out, frequently pedunculated - in this respect differing from acne papules, which are not pedunculated.
- Prurigo; Hard, and under or in the skin, not much elevated, and with little change in color of the skin; more easily felt than seen, and accompanied with scratch-marks.
- Rubeola; Red papules, covering the entire surface, and accompanied with febrile symptoms.
- Scabies; Small papules,- usually accompanied with other lesions, and generally with their apices scratched off.
- Strophulus; Red papules, in infancy only.
- Syphilis; More or less generalized reddish or copper-colored; mav degenerate into pustules, or become covered with a fine scale.
- Urticaria; Large papules, lasting a few hours only, but succeeded at short intervals by others, and accompanied with sharp pruritus.
- Variola; Discrete or confluent, changing into vesicles, and later into umbilicated pustules; usually accompanied with severe general symptoms.
- Xanthelasma; Yellowish and slightly elevated, most frequent about the eyes, but may occur elsewhere.
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