Un eritema tossico neonatale… pruriginoso

Abstract

A 3-month-old male infant was evaluated for the persistence of erythema toxicum neonatorum. Physical examination was remarkable for a papulopustular rash on his hands and feet, with similar lesions on his trunk. The baby was irritable and continuously rubbed his soles. The parents as well presented similar cutaneous lesions, which had been treated with anti-histamine drugs without effect. The suspect of scabies was therefore raised and eventually confirmed by the examination of the skin scraping sample, showing the presence of the mites. In both the infant and his parents the clinical picture resolved after two cycles of topical permethrin. In the neonatal age, scabies can act as a great mimicker. In front of any pruritic rash, it is therefore mandatory to search for affected relatives. In fact a prompt diagnosis is crucial to prevent the superinfection of the patient lesions, as well as epidemic outbreaks.