Neonatal and infantile erythroderma revisited

Abstract

Erythroderma is the term applied to any inflammatory skin disease affecting more than 90% of the body surface. The incidence of neonatal and infantile erythroderma was 0.11% in an Indian study. There are various causes of neonatal and infantile erythroderma such as congenital, metabolic, papulosquamous, eczematous, drug induced, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancy but it is quite difficult to establish the etiology in early stage of life due to less specific clinical, biochemical and histological findings as compared to adults. Proper history, examination, skin biopsy, and various other relevant investigations (based on the differential diagnoses) are imperative to the diagnosis of neonatal and infantile erythroderma. Ruling out immunodeficiency in a child with failure to thrive is important. Since erythroderma is a dermatological emergency, its wise management is mandatory. Vitals, input-output, serum electrolytes, etc., are to be precisely monitored. Barrier nursing is of utmost importance in such cases. Any complication is to be dealt with, and specific treatment of particular cause of childhood and infantile erythroderma is to be done.