Pediatric dermatology
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Pediatric dermatology · Mar 2000
Case ReportsStaphylococcal septicemia in children with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is frequently complicated by minor bacterial superinfections. Invasive infections such as osteomyelitis have rarely been reported. We describe two children with staphylococcal septicemia during an exacerbation of their AD. ⋯ While their true incidence in children with AD is currently unknown, it is conceivable that systemic staphylococcal infections may be more common than previously thought. Staphylococcal bacteremia has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever in children with severe AD. Conversely, episodes of staphylococcal bacteremia should prompt a search for underlying predisposing factors.
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Pediatric dermatology · Mar 2000
Case ReportsScleroderma-like indurations involving fascias: an abortive form of congenital fascial dystrophy (Stiff skin syndrome).
Four patients are described with stone-hard indurations of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, predominantly on the buttocks and thighs, in the areas of the thickest fascia lata and glutealis. All cases were sporadic, started in early infancy, were only slightly or not progressive, and showed no visceral involvement or immunologic abnormalities. In all, the hallmark of the disease was strikingly enlarged fascia. ⋯ Recognition of atypical or abortive cases of congenital fascial dystrophy, which is probably a variant of heterogeneous stiff skin syndrome involving exclusively fascia, is of practical importance, since no therapy is required. However, intensive rehabilitation should start in early infancy and continue throughout life. The genetic defect of molecular organization of collagen in the fascia results in formation of giant amianthoid-like collagen fibrils.
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Pediatric dermatology · Nov 1999
Case ReportsAcrodermatitis enteropathica with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis.
Acrodermatitis enteropathica is characterized by eczematous and scaly plaques on the face, scalp, acral, and anogenital regions. In addition to typical lesions, unusual prominent vesiculobullous lesions are also described. We report a full-term, 9-month-old boy who has acrodermatitis enteropathica and Pseudomonas sepsis. ⋯ Serum zinc level was extremely low. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified in cultures of blood and fluid which was aspirated from the bullous lesions. After oral zinc sulfate and intravenous antibiotic treatment his condition improved within 2 weeks.
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A child with alopecia areata (AA) presented initially with clinical features of loose anagen hair (LAH) and had features consistent with LAH on microscopic hair analysis. However, a scalp biopsy specimen demonstrated peribulbar inflammatory infiltrates characteristic of AA. We suggest that AA may mimic LAH clinically and a scalp biopsy may help in making the correct diagnosis.