[Neonatal toxic erythema: 3 atypical cases]

Diagnosis of pustular dermatosis occurring during the first days of life is based on clinical findings. Erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN) is the more frequent benign self limiting eruption in the newborn.

Three cases of ETN with localized pustules to the genitals and perineal area are described.

When encountering a newborn with a localized pustulosis rash, it is important to separate benign condition as ETN from those that require prompt diagnosis and therapy. Atypical ETN and pustular dermatosis due to bacterial or viral infections or inflammatory diseases (e.g., eosinophilic pustulosis) can be differentiated by cytological and bacterial samples.