Medical Care

The goal is to adequately treat the underlying infection or dermatitis, which should lead to prompt resolution of the id reaction. Recurrences are common, especially if the primary source is not treated adequately.

Treatment of the eruption includes the following:

Systemic or topical corticosteroids
Wet compresses
Systemic or topical antihistamines

Consultations

If a severe underlying infection is present, consult an infectious disease specialist or internist.

Complications

Complications can include secondary infection and secondary allergic contact dermatitis from topically applied medicaments/emollients.

Medication

Brown A, Sorey W. To Itch, Perchance to Scratch. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2008 Nov 17. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Brenner S, Ophir J, Krakowski A. Pediculid. An unusual -id reaction to pediculosis capitis. Dermatologica. 1984. 168(4):189-91. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Chao SC, Lee YP, Lee JY. Eosinophilic cellulitis and panniculitis with generalized vesicular pustular id reaction after a molten aluminum burn. Dermatitis. 2010 Jun. 21(3):E11-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Singh PY, Sinha P, Baveja S, Sood A. Immune-mediated tuberculous uveitis - A rare association with papulonecrotic tuberculid. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul. 67 (7):1207-1209. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kajal NC, Prasanth P, Dadra R. Lichen scrofulosorum: An uncommon manifestation of a common disease. Int J Mycobacteriol. 2020 Jul-Sep. 9 (3):313-315. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kolalapudi SA, Konala S, Kotha S, Arumilli PC, Kalagarla S. Unusual presentations of cutaneous tuberculosis. Indian J Tuberc. 2020 Jul. 67 (3):433-437. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Charifa A, Mangat R, Oakley AM. Cutaneous Tuberculosis. StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 Jan. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Cunningham MJ, Zone JJ, Petersen MJ, Green JA. Circulating activated (DR-positive) T lymphocytes in a patient with autoeczematization. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986 Jun. 14(6):1039-41. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kasteler JS, Petersen MJ, Vance JE, Zone JJ. Circulating activated T lymphocytes in autoeczematization. Arch Dermatol. 1992 Jun. 128(6):795-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Brazzelli V, Grassi S, Savasta S, Ruffinazzi G, Carugno A, Barbaccia V, et al. Pompholyx of the hands after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for clinically isolated syndrome: a paediatric case. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2014 Jan-Mar. 27 (1):127-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lowther C, Miedler JD, Cockerell CJ. Id-like reaction to BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Cutis. 2013 Mar. 91 (3):145-6, 151. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Crum N, Hardaway C, Graham B. Development of an idlike reaction during treatment for acute pulmonary histoplasmosis: a new cutaneous manifestation in histoplasmosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Feb. 48(2 Suppl):S5-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Choudhri SH, Magro CM, Crowson AN, Nicolle LE. An Id reaction to Mycobacterium leprae: first documented case. Cutis. 1994 Oct. 54(4):282-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Netchiporouk E, Cohen BA. Recognizing and managing eczematous id reactions to molluscum contagiosum virus in children. Pediatrics. 2012 Apr. 129(4):e1072-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lian J, Dundas G, Tron V, Lauzon G, Roa W. radiotherapy-induced ID reaction. Am J Clin Oncol. 2005 Feb. 28(1):105-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Trattner A, David M. Tefillin dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 May. 52(5):831-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Morrison JG, Fourie ED. The papulonecrotic tuberculide. From Arthus reaction to lupus vulgaris. Br J Dermatol. 1974 Sep. 91(3):263-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lowther C, Miedler JD, Cockerell CJ. Id-like reaction to BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Cutis. 2013 Mar. 91 (3):145-6, 151. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Al Aboud K, Al Hawsawi K, Alfadley A. Tinea incognito on the hand causing a facial dermatophytid reaction. Acta Derm Venereol. 2003. 83(1):59. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Gorgievska-Sukarovska B, Skerlev M, Žele-Starčević L, Husar K, Halasz M. Kerion Celsi due to Microsporum canis with a Dermatophytid Reaction. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2017 Jul. 25 (2):151-154. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Atzori L, Pau M, Aste M. Erythema multiforme ID reaction in atypical dermatophytosis: a case report. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003 Nov. 17(6):699-701. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Fritsch P, Reider N. Eczematous Group. Bolognia JL, Jorizzo J, Rapini R, eds. Dermatology. Mo: Mosby: St. Louis; 2003. Vol 1: 221-2.

Media Gallery

Id reaction (autoeczematization). Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/dermatitis/a-ecz2.jpg).

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Author

Matthew P Evans, MD Chair, Department of Dermatology, Dreyer Medical Clinic

Matthew P Evans, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Chicago Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Darryl Bronson, MD, MPH Consultant and Immediate Past Chairman, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital of Chicago; Instructor, Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois at Chicago

Darryl Bronson, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, Illinois State Medical Society, Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Texas Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey P Callen, MD Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Biogen US (Adjudicator for study entry cutaneous lupus erythematosus); Priovant (Adjudicator for entry into a dermatomyositis study); IQVIA (Serono - adjudicator for a study of cutaneous LE) <br/>Received honoraria from UpToDate for author/editor; Received royalty from Elsevier for book author/editor; Received dividends from trust accounts, but I do not control these accounts, and have directed our managers to divest pharmaceutical stocks as is fiscally prudent from Stock holdings in various trust accounts include some pharmaceutical companies and device makers for these trust accounts for: Stocks held in various trust accounts: Allergen; Amgen; Pfizer; 3M; Johnson and Johnson; Merck; Abbott Laboratories; AbbVie; Procter and Gamble;; Celgene; Gilead; CVS; Walgreens; Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Donald Belsito, MD Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Medical Center

Donald Belsito, MD is a member of the following medical societies: New York County Medical Society, Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, Phi Beta Kappa, American Contact Dermatitis Society, Dermatology Foundation, Dermatologic Society of Greater New York, Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.