BREAKING: Severe Psoriasis flare-up Can Be Life-Threatening, Experts warn
Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a severe and abrupt form of psoriasis, can manifest with widespread pustules visible to the naked eye, according to dermatologists. In its most severe presentations, GPP can become life-threatening if left untreated.
Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition, is characterized by microscopic collections of pus cells. However,in GPP,these collections enlarge significantly during a severe flare,becoming externally visible across the entire body.
Several subtypes of GPP exist, each with distinct characteristics:
Acute GPP (von Zumbusch): This is the most severe and common form, affecting approximately 90% of GPP patients. It develops rapidly, with flares occurring within seven days.
Annular Pustular Psoriasis: A milder, recurrent form of GPP, typically flaring between 7 to 90 days after the initial GPP onset.
Localized or Chronic Acral GPP: This subtype develops over three months, with lesions appearing on the extremities such as hands, feet, arms, and legs. It can eventually spread to other body parts.
Pustular Psoriasis of Pregnancy (impetigo Herpetiformis): this condition typically emerges in the final trimester of pregnancy and is exacerbated by the pregnancy itself. It carries risks including placental insufficiency, stillbirth, fetal abnormalities, and premature death.
Infantile and Juvenile Pustular Psoriasis: In children, GPP usually begins between the ages of 3 and 16, accounting for 0.3% to 7% of childhood psoriasis cases. While perhaps life-threatening,GPP in children has a higher chance of spontaneous resolution and remission compared to adults.
Mixed GPP: individuals may also experience mixed GPP, presenting with symptoms from more than one subtype.
