A severe illness of children of the teething age, marked by pink cold clammy hands and feet, heavy sweating, raised blood pressure, rapid pulse, photophobia, loss of appetite, and insomnia. It has been suggested that the condition is an allergic reaction to mercury, since it used to occur when teething powders, lotions, and ointments containing mercury were used. Although there is no definite proof of this, the disease has virtually disappeared since all mercury-containing pediatric preparations have been banned.
This condition, often observed in infants, is characterized by the entire body turning pink due to erythema. It is also known by various names, including acrodynia, erythredema polyneuropathy, infantile erythredema, Feer’s disease, and Seller’s disease.