Erythroderma: a study of incidence and aetiopathogenesis.

Thirty cases of exfoliative dermatitis (22 male and 8 female) were selected at random for study. In addition to routine history and clinical examination, investigations like histopathology of skin and lymph nodes, peripheral blood smear for abnormal cells and bone marrow examinations were done. Aetiologically, the cases could be classified into 4 categories namely exfoliation in per existing dermatoses, drug-induced exfoliation, idiopathic exfoliation and exfoliation secondary to internal malignancy. Two cases showed abnormal monocytoid cells (sezary cells) in peripheral blood smear.