Hand-biting Lesions in a Child — a Challenging Diagnosis

Abstract

AbstractBackground:Self-induced skin lesions, especially in young children, can create confusion within pediatricians, dermatologists, or other medical care providers, leading to different diagnoses, unnecessary investigations, and delaying the correct therapeutic psychiatric evaluation.Case report:We report the case of a 4-year-old boy who was referred to Dermatology after being hospitalized in the Allergy Department for a chronic allergic contact dermatitis. He had been previously diagnosed with chronic hand dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, and treated with no favorable outcome. Scaly erythematous plaques were noticed on the dorsal aspects of both hands and on the lateral folds of the fingers. The skin lesions were distributed in a non-symmetrical way. A diagnosis of self-injurious behavior was presumed, and psychiatric evaluation was asked. The child was transferred to the Psychiatry Department, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia was concluded.