What do you understand by miliaria?
An acute mildly inflammatory disorder of the sweat-glands, characterized by the appearance of minute, discrete but closely crowded papules, vesico-papules, and vesicles.
Describe the symptoms of miliaria.
The eruption, consisting of pin-point to millet-seed-sized papules, vesico-papules, vesicles, or a mixture of these lesions, discrete but usually numerous and closely crowded, appears suddenly, occurring upon a limited portion of the surface, or, as commonly observed, involving a greater part or the whole integument. The trunk is a favorite locality. The papular lesions are pinkish or reddish, and the vesicles whitish or yellowish, surrounded by inflammatory areola, thus giving the whole eruption a bright red appearance—miliaria rubra. Later, the areolæ fade, the transparent contents of the vesicles become somewhat opaque and yellowish-white, and the eruption has a whitish or yellowish cast—miliaria alba. In long-continued cases, especially in children, boils and cutaneous abscesses sometimes develop; and it may also develop into a true eczema.
Itching, or a feeling of burning, slight or intense, is usually present.
What is the course of the eruption?
The vesicles show no disposition to rupture, but dry up in a few days or a week, disappearing by absorption and with slight subsequent desquamation; the papular lesions gradually fade away, and the affection, if the exciting cause has ceased to act, terminates.
What is the cause of miliaria?
Excessive heat. Debilitated individuals, especially children, are more prone to an attack. Being too warmly clad is often causative.
What is the nature of the disease?