A 7-year-old Girl with a Pruritic Facial Eruption

Abstract

<P><I>Editor’s note: Each month, this department features a discussion of an unusual diagnosis in genetics, radiology, or dermatology. A description and images are presented, with the diagnosis and an explanation of how the diagnosis was determined following. As always, your comments are welcome.</I></P> <P>A 7-year-old girl was evaluated for a pruritic facial eruption that was present for 6 months. The eruption began on her right cheek. She was diagnosed with eczema and treated with hydrocortisone 2.5% ointment with initial improvement then worsening. Since that time, she was treated with multiple topical therapies, most of which also temporarily improved the eruption. These therapies included aclometasone 0.05% cream, clotrimazole 1% cream, mupirocin ointment, and most recently, clotrimazole 1%/betamethasone dipropionate cream. In addition, she completed a 10-day course of oral clarithromycin without improvement in the eruption. The patient’s past medical history was otherwise unremarkable.</P><H4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</H4><P>Clara Filice, MD, MPH, and Sarah L. Chamlin, MD, are with the Division of Dermatology, Children’s Memorial Medical Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.</P><P>Dr. Filice and Dr. Chamlin have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.</P>