Blisters with other signs of illness
Blisters can sometimes develop from an illness or a toxic reaction. Symptoms of a serious illness can include:
- Shaking chills or fever.
- Muscle or joint aches.
- A moderate to severe headache.
- A vague sense of illness (malaise).
- Abdominal cramping.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
Blisters may appear with a viral infection, such as chickenpox or shingles, or after a bite from a poisonous spider, such as a brown recluse, or following a tick bite. Blisters may also occur as a symptom of a toxic reaction to a medication. This reaction is called Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Your blister or blisters may not be related to another illness. You may have picked up a viral illness, such as the flu, at the same time you got a blister. It could be a coincidence that the blister and signs of illness appeared at the same time.
You have a greater risk of developing an infection and complications from a blister if you also have other conditions, such as diabetes or peripheral arterial disease.
Call your health professional if you have a blister and other signs of illness. A health professional can evaluate your symptoms and recommend treatment.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: May 8, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology | |
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