Pediatric dermatology
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Papular urticaria is a common pruritic hypersensitivity reaction to the bites of insects of many different types, including fleas, mosquitoes, chiggers, and, more rarely, avian or rodent mites. Which particular insect is the cause varies with geographic location. ⋯ With its relatively warm winters and wet, foggy summers, San Francisco is an environment where fleas thrive, and their bites afflict children at day care centers and park playgrounds, as well as in homes with pets. We review the clinical approach to papular urticaria in general, and focus on flea bite prevention and management.
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Pediatric dermatology · May 1996
Severe congenital generalized exfoliative erythroderma in newborns and infants: a possible sign of Netherton syndrome.
We examined skin biopsy specimens from 17 of 19 newborns or infants with generalized ichthyosiform, exfoliative, seborrheic, or psoriasiform erythroderma. The specimens showed similar characteristic but nonspecific and therefore, at first sight, uninformative histologic features. Morphologically, the skin was affected overall with a persistent outbreak of eczema-like eruptions of subacute or chronic dermatitis. ⋯ In six patients the condition had a fatal course within months because of hypernatremia, recurrent infections, failure to thrive, and sepsis. Our aim is to call attention to and reaffirm that in congenital or early infantile cases of generalized exfoliative erythroderma. Netherton syndrome should be suspected as the underlying disease.