Nikolsky's sign

Home care:

There is no home care for the conditions associated with a positive Nikolsky's sign; affected people are hospitalized. Pemphigus is a chronic disease and is treated both at home and in the hospital.

Call your health care provider if:

• you or your child develop the Nikolsky sign or redness and blistering of the skin without an obvious cause.

(Note: This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider.)

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The affected person will be hospitalized, as the conditions associated with Nikolsky's sign are serious. The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. Intravenous fluid resuscitation is often needed, and intravenous antibiotics may also be needed.

Medical history questions documenting Nikolsky's sign in detail may include:

• When did you first notice that the skin was red or blistered?
• What other symptoms occur at the same time?

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to a positive Nikolsky's sign to your personal medical record.

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial