title: Pediatric morphea.
abstract: This article outlines the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood morphea. Also known as localized scleroderma, morphea is a fibrosing disorder of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Morphea is differentiated from systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) based on the absence of sclerodactyly, Raynaud phenomenon, and nail-fold capillary changes. Confusion may occur because patients with morphea often have systemic symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, arthralgias, myalgias, and positive autoantibodies. Unlike morphea, systemic sclerosis has organ involvement, particularly gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and renal.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. browningj3@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Browning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome