Pernio

Pernio, or chilblains, is an inflammation of the skin, occurring as a secondary effect of cold, and appearing for the most part upon the hands and feet. Occasionally pernio attacks the nose and ears, and may appear on any part of the body. It commences after exposure to cold by slight vesication attended with tingling, itching, burning sensations. In mild cases it may terminate in a few days with desquamation. In severer cases, remissions and exacerbations are prone to occur, and thus prolong the disease for months. The parts are usually left in an irritable state, and are liable to renewed attacks from the slightest causes. Any sudden change of temperature, and especially a combination of cold and moisture, may renew the trouble. In chronic cases the parts become livid or purplish in color, and are more or less swollen and itchy. Ulcers frequently form. One author claims that the ulcerations of erythema pernio were very frequent in scrofulous patients. Chilblains present special gravity in certain cases, as they might become the starting point of cutaneous tuberculosis, and are specially tenacious when they occur on the fingers of patients affected with spina ventosa.