Acrodynia (or pink disease, erythredema, erythredema polyneuropathy, Bilderbeck's, Selter's, Swift's and Swift-Feer disease) refers to a condition of pain and dusky pink discoloration in the hands and feet most often seen in children chronically exposed to heavy metals, especially mercury.

The word is derived from the Greek, where ακρος means high (as in:in an extremity) and οδυνη means pain. As such, it might be (erroneously) used to indicate that a patient has pain in the hands or feet. However, acrodynia is a disease rather than a symptomHorowitz Y, Greenberg D, Ling G, Lifshitz M. Acrodynia: a case report of two siblings. Arch Dis Child 2002; 86: 453. PMID 12023189.

Causes

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Mercury compounds like calomel were historically used for various medical purposes: as laxatives, diuretics, antiseptics or antimicrobial drugs for syphilis, typhus and yellow feverBeck C, Krafchik B, Traubici J, Jacobson S. Mercury intoxication: it still exists. Pediatr Dermatol 2004; 21: 254-9. PMID 15165207 . Teething powders were are widespread source of mercury poisoning until the recognition of mercury toxicity in the 1940s.

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