Blistering distal dactylitis: a case series in children under nine months of age

Blistering distal dactylitis (BDD) is a distinct clinical entity that is infrequently reported in the literature. Characteristically, blistering distal dactylitis is described as a localized infection involving the volar fat pad of the distal phalanx of the digits, and it usually presents as a fluid-filled blister. The usual causative organism is group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, but less commonly, Staphyloccous aureus and Staphyloccoccus epidermis are present. The normal age range is reported to be 2 to 16 years old, but there are case reports of this infection in adults. Only one case has been reported in the literature in a child younger than 24 months of age. In this report we describe three cases in children younger than 9 months old. These three cases indicate that BDD can and does occur in children younger than 2 years of age.