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| | THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 10, Ch. 111, Dermatitis |
 | | Dermatitis (eczema): Superficial skin inflammation, characterized histologically by epidermal edema and clinically by vesicles (when acute), poorly marginated redness, edema, oozing, crusting, scaling, usually pruritus, and lichenification caused by scratching or rubbing. |
 | | Often, eczema refers to vesicular dermatitis, but some authorities restrict eczema to mean chronic dermatitis. |
 | | Some also refer to dermatitis as spongiotic dermatitis because spongiosis (intraepidermal edema) is a histologic feature. |
| www.merck.com /pubs/mmanual/section10/chapter111/111a.htm (76 words) |
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