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What Causes Redness And Itching Sensation All Over Body?
Question: My dad is 78. He has severe skin flaking and itching everywhere. His skin is deep red over his entire torso and limbs and extremely itchy. He has lymphedema in arms and legs. He feels very cold and shivers all the time and he is tired and weak most of the time. He has been to the hospital and a dermatologist and they haven't been able to diagnose or help him. The hospital drained an abcess in his leg, and he is seeing a massage specialist who is treating the lymphedema but she is alarmed that it continues to reoccur. This started in August 2014. What could be wrong?
Brief Answer:
Need to check for hypothyroidism, or allergy.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Will require reports of liver function tests and thyroid hormone profile.
2. Cold, slow metabolism and infection needs evaluation.
3. Do get back with complete hemogram, serum protein, liver function tests, serum IgE levels ( for allergic reaction) and thyroid hormone levels. Looks to be possible hypothyroidism.
4. Nutrition with protein rich diet and good hydration necessary to improve immunity.
Test results necessary for further opinion.
Dr. Prakash HM
Need to check for hypothyroidism, or allergy.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Will require reports of liver function tests and thyroid hormone profile.
2. Cold, slow metabolism and infection needs evaluation.
3. Do get back with complete hemogram, serum protein, liver function tests, serum IgE levels ( for allergic reaction) and thyroid hormone levels. Looks to be possible hypothyroidism.
4. Nutrition with protein rich diet and good hydration necessary to improve immunity.
Test results necessary for further opinion.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for your help. I thought it could be hypothyroid as well but wasn't sure since there are so many symptoms for hypothyroidism. We will pursue that.
My mom was using herbal lotions and oils on him, which could have caused an allergic reaction. She stopped everything when his skin turned so red, and we are only using the lotion the dermatogist recommended for about six weeks or so now but there is no improvement.
I was able to get all the test results from his hospital visit. These labs were done on 10/27/2014. At that time his legs were very bad with the lymphedema, peeling skin, redness and heat, but his torso and arms were not yet visibly affected. We will get the other tests you listed as soon as we can.
Component - tested value (standard range)
The starred ones are out of range
Iron - 108 (45-182 ug/dL)
Ferritin - 148 (23.9-336.2 mg/mL)
Folate - 4.5 (>6.0 mg/mL)
B12 - 683 (180-914 pg/mL)
*TSH 8.45 (0.34-5.60 ulU/mL)
*Hemoglobin A1C - 6.6% (4.2-5.8%)
Estimated average glucose - 143
Comprehensive metabolic panel:
NA - 137 mmol/L (136-144)
K - 4.1 mmol/L (3.5-5.1)
CL - 106 mmol/L (101-111)
CO2 - 26 mmol/L (22-32)
Anion gap - 5 mmol/L (4-12)
*Glucose - 106 mg/dL (65-99)
BUN - 20 mg/dL (8-26)
CREA - 0.99 mg/dL (0.80-1.30)
EGFR NOT AFICAN XXXXXXX - >60 mL/min/1.73m2 (>=60)
Calcium - 9.0 mg/dL (8.9-10.5)
Albumin - 3.6 g/dL (3.5-4.9)
Bilirubin total - 0.6 mg/dL (0.4-1.5)
*Total protein - 8.3 g/dL (6.0-8.0)
AST - 23 IU/L (15-41)
ALT - 26 IU/L (7-50)
ALK PHOS - 53 IU/l (34-100)
*Globulin- 4.7 g/dL (1.1-4.5)
Albumin/Globulin ratio .8
BUN/CREA 20.2
Lipid panel:
Triglycerides - 92 (10-150 mg/dL)
Cholesterol - 169 (50-199 mg/dL)
LDL, calculated - 116 (50-100 mg/dL)
*HDL Cholesterol - 35 (40-80 mg/dL)
My mom was using herbal lotions and oils on him, which could have caused an allergic reaction. She stopped everything when his skin turned so red, and we are only using the lotion the dermatogist recommended for about six weeks or so now but there is no improvement.
I was able to get all the test results from his hospital visit. These labs were done on 10/27/2014. At that time his legs were very bad with the lymphedema, peeling skin, redness and heat, but his torso and arms were not yet visibly affected. We will get the other tests you listed as soon as we can.
Component - tested value (standard range)
The starred ones are out of range
Iron - 108 (45-182 ug/dL)
Ferritin - 148 (23.9-336.2 mg/mL)
Folate - 4.5 (>6.0 mg/mL)
B12 - 683 (180-914 pg/mL)
*TSH 8.45 (0.34-5.60 ulU/mL)
*Hemoglobin A1C - 6.6% (4.2-5.8%)
Estimated average glucose - 143
Comprehensive metabolic panel:
NA - 137 mmol/L (136-144)
K - 4.1 mmol/L (3.5-5.1)
CL - 106 mmol/L (101-111)
CO2 - 26 mmol/L (22-32)
Anion gap - 5 mmol/L (4-12)
*Glucose - 106 mg/dL (65-99)
BUN - 20 mg/dL (8-26)
CREA - 0.99 mg/dL (0.80-1.30)
EGFR NOT AFICAN XXXXXXX - >60 mL/min/1.73m2 (>=60)
Calcium - 9.0 mg/dL (8.9-10.5)
Albumin - 3.6 g/dL (3.5-4.9)
Bilirubin total - 0.6 mg/dL (0.4-1.5)
*Total protein - 8.3 g/dL (6.0-8.0)
AST - 23 IU/L (15-41)
ALT - 26 IU/L (7-50)
ALK PHOS - 53 IU/l (34-100)
*Globulin- 4.7 g/dL (1.1-4.5)
Albumin/Globulin ratio .8
BUN/CREA 20.2
Lipid panel:
Triglycerides - 92 (10-150 mg/dL)
Cholesterol - 169 (50-199 mg/dL)
LDL, calculated - 116 (50-100 mg/dL)
*HDL Cholesterol - 35 (40-80 mg/dL)
Brief Answer:
TSH level is abnormal - hypothyroidism present possibly
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for replying.
1. TSH level is elevated indicating hypothyroidism. TSH level correction to normal levels is necessary.
2. Glucose shows impaired glucose tolerance with a possibility of going towards diabetes mellitus in near future. Need to control it.
Will require current levels for both 1 & 2. If still abnormal, correction would be necessary. Smaller steps at correction will help slowly.
3. Will require to continue with nutritious diet along with multivitamin and mineral supplements. Do continue with this and protein rich diet.
4. Other values, not to worry about at present. Will get corrected slowly.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
TSH level is abnormal - hypothyroidism present possibly
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for replying.
1. TSH level is elevated indicating hypothyroidism. TSH level correction to normal levels is necessary.
2. Glucose shows impaired glucose tolerance with a possibility of going towards diabetes mellitus in near future. Need to control it.
Will require current levels for both 1 & 2. If still abnormal, correction would be necessary. Smaller steps at correction will help slowly.
3. Will require to continue with nutritious diet along with multivitamin and mineral supplements. Do continue with this and protein rich diet.
4. Other values, not to worry about at present. Will get corrected slowly.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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