How does EB affect the body?
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of connective tissue disorders that causes skin to be fragile and blister and tear easily. Blisters and sores occur when clothing rubs on skin or when the skin is bumped. Mild cases of the disease usually cause painful blisters on the hands, elbows, knees, and feet.
Is epidermolysis bullosa life threatening?
EB can range in severity from mild to life-threatening. In mild EB, the blistering tends to develop around the hands and feet. Severe EB often affects the whole body, and some complications, such as infection, feeding difficulties, and loss of nutrients through the skin, can be fatal.
Can you get EB later in life?
But EBA isn’t inherited, and symptoms don’t usually appear until later life. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system starts to attack healthy body tissue. It’s not known exactly what causes this. EBA is a very rare condition that tends to affect people over the age of 40.
Can you live a normal life with epidermolysis bullosa?
Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa As with EBS, the severity of DEB ranges from mild to severe. Most children with DEB have a normal life expectancy, but, in general, DEB tends to cause more long-term problems than EBS.
What are signs and symptoms of epidermolysis bullosa?
Symptoms of epidermolysis bullosa
- skin that blisters easily.
- blisters on the hands and soles of the feet.
- thickened skin that may be scarred or change colour over time.
- thickening of the skin and nails.
Is epidermolysis bullosa painful?
For patients suffering from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a hereditary skin disease, even a gentle touch is extremely painful.
Why does junctional epidermolysis bullosa cause blisters?
Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a major form of epidermolysis bullosa, a group of genetic conditions that cause the skin to be very fragile and to blister easily. Blisters and areas of skin loss (erosions) form in response to minor injury or friction, such as rubbing or scratching.
What are the symptoms of epidermolysis bullosa?
Symptoms of EB include: Blisters on the skin (hands, feet, elbows and knees) or inside the body What causes epidermolysis bullosa (EB)? A mutation (defect) in one of 18 genes causes EB. People with the disorder have a missing or damaged gene that affects a protein used to make collagen.
What are the signs and symptoms of EB?
The signs and symptoms of EB depend on the type and usually appear when an affected person is a baby or toddler. Some symptoms overlap between the types. Symptoms of EB include: Blisters on the skin (hands, feet, elbows and knees) or inside the body What causes epidermolysis bullosa (EB)? A mutation (defect) in one of 18 genes causes EB.
Is there a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa ( EB )?
There is no cure for epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Treatment is aimed at helping prevent blisters from forming, caring for blisters and skin so complications do not occur, treating nutritional problems that may occur due to blisters in the mouth or esophagus, and managing pain.