Scalded skin syndrome

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Ritter disease; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSS)

• fever
• redness of the skin (erythema) which spreads to cover most of the body
• skin slips off with gentle pressure leaving wet red areas (Nikolsky sign)
• large areas of skin peel or fall away (exfoliation or desquamation)
• painful skin
• infant appears quite ill

• positive Nikolsky's sign (skin slipping off when rubbed)

Tests include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• cultures of the skin and throat (often yield staphylococci)
• skin biopsy (done only in rare cases where diagnosis is in question, such as when the skin condition may be due to a drug reaction known as toxic epidermal necrolysis or TEN)
• check of electrolytes to see if fluid loss has caused difficulties

Review Date: 12/01/2005
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.