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Published on: September 20, 2018

A 6-month old with total body flushing and a macular-papular lesion

Heather Conrad1, Marianne Gausche-Hill, David Burbulys

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|May 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A rare cause of infant skin flushing is solitary mastocytoma, a skin lesion releasing mast cell mediators. Early diagnosis and counseling are key for managing this condition in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Infant skin flushing can indicate various conditions, including allergic reactions, sepsis, or vasodilation.
  • Rarely, flushing results from mast cell mediator release (histamine, prostaglandins, tryptase).

Observation:

  • A 6-month-old infant presented with severe, generalized skin flushing.
  • A distinct yellow-tan, raised lesion on the thigh was noted, suggestive of a solitary mastocytoma.
  • Erythema surrounding the lesion indicated a positive Darier sign.

Findings:

  • The case highlights solitary mastocytoma as a rare cause of severe flushing in infants.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed by dermatology, with no further treatment required for the infant.
  • Management counseling was provided to the family for symptom recurrence.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering mastocytosis in the differential diagnosis of infant flushing.
  • Understanding mast cell mediator release is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
  • Prompt identification and appropriate counseling can alleviate parental concerns and guide future care.

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