Skin manifestations in human yersiniosis

In 1969-1973, acute yersiniosis was diagnosed in 30 cases of erythema nodosum (EN), in 6 cases of EN and simultaneous erythema multiforme (EM), in one case of EN and erythema figuratum, in one case of EM, and in one case of drug eruption-like exanthema, respectively. During these years, 180 patients with EN due to other causes were seen. The most marked difference in the clinical course between yersiniosis and other cases was the duration of the eruption. EN nodules in yersinia EN faded away in 4 weeks in all but one case while the 4-week cure rate among the other patients with EN was only 37%. There were two types of EM lesions, namely cockade-like lesions and vesicopapules. They usually appeared some days before or together with EN nodules and they disappeared within 2 weeks without any scarring. Yersiniosis was caused by Y. enterocolitica serotype 3 in 19 cases. Y.ent. serotype 9 in 17 cases, and Y.pseudotuberculosis in 3 cases. Of the patients, 21 suffered from abdominal pains and/or diarrhoea prior to skin manifestations, but 11 had no pregastrointestinal symptoms resembling those of yersiniosis.