Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta

Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta, or Mucha Habermann's Disease, short form PLEVA, is a disease of the immune system. It is the more severe version of Pityriasis lichenoides chronica. The disease is characterized by rashes and small lesions on the skin. The disease is most common in males and usually occurs in childhood, although it has been seen in every age group and every race. It is possible for the disease to go into remission for short periods of time or forever.

Diagnosis
It is commonly misdiagnosed as chickenpox or rosacea. The most common way to diagnose is by biopsy. This disease has not been known to be life threatening.

Causes
There is no known cause of this disease; however, many links from viruses, vaccines, and other illnesses have been made. The easiest way to understand this disease is to think of it like this: Everyone has T cells that fight disease; in a person with PLEVA, the T cells get mixed up and decide to form in the skin, causing the lesions. It is unknown why this happens.

The trigger which causes the dysfunctional immune system response, PLEVA, is unknown; bacterial, viral, and environmental causes are suspected, but not conclusively demonstrated.

Treatment
It is not contagious and currently there is no cure for the disease, although the lesions can be treated with ultraviolet therapy as well as topical steroids and antibiotics.

Treatment often involves multiple therapies that address the immune system and bacterial, viral, or dermatological causes.