Erythromelalgia, also known as Mitchell's disease (after Silas Weir Mitchell) and red neuralgia, is a rare disorder in which blood vessels, usually in the extremeties and especially in the feet, dilate, causing a painful burning and throbbing sensation and red skin. The attacks come and go, and tend to be worse in summer. Erythromelalgia is often associated with vascular diseases such as polycythaemia vera, thrombocytosis or with heavy metal poisoning.

Erythromelalgia responds to cooling, and often disappears completely on taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin.

A primary (or familial) form is termed erythermalgia. This occurs in patients who are younger. The disease is very rare. It has been linked to a mutation of the SCN9A (a sodium channel), the gene of which is located on the long arm of the second chromosome (2q24). It inherits in an autosomal dominant fashion.

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• (hereditary erythermalgia)