A case series of hematohidrosis: A puzzling medical phenomenon

Abstract

Hematohidrosis (bloody sweat), also known as hematidrosis, is a rare clinical entity characterized by recurrent, spontaneous, self-limited episodes of blood oozing from intact skin or mucosa that are witnessed by medical personnel. We hereby report three healthy children with the history of recurrent episodes of bleeding from the intact skin over their various parts of the body. Most of these bleeding episodes occurred after stressful situations. On the basis of clinical presentation and normal investigation, they were diagnosed with hematohidrosis. We treated them with non-specific beta-blocker (propranolol). Follow-up observation of these patients demonstrated marked diminish in the frequency and severity of their episodes. In spite of the rarity of hematohidrosis, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of bleeding episodes in patients with normal physical and laboratory investigations.