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Severe Infant Rash Resistant to Therapy Due to Zinc Deficiency
Javed Mohammed1, Shruti Mehrotra, Helene Schulz
1From the Departments of Paediatrics and Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Transient neonatal zinc deficiency can mimic severe atopic dermatitis in infants. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications and avoid unnecessary therapies for pediatric skin conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Pediatric skin diseases are frequent emergency department visits.
- Diagnostic challenges arise with severe, persistent, or unresponsive rashes.
Observation:
- A neonate presented with a severe rash unresponsive to atopic dermatitis treatment.
- This prompted further investigation beyond typical diagnoses.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with transient neonatal zinc deficiency.
- This condition presented as a severe, treatment-resistant skin eruption.
Implications:
- Clinicians must consider zinc deficiency in infants with unusual skin presentations.
- Timely diagnosis prevents misdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, and serious complications.
Abstract:
Pediatric skin diseases are a common presenting complaint to emergency medicine physicians but often pose a significant diagnostic challenge. Skin eruptions that are unusually severe for the diagnosis in question, lasting beyond the typical time of resolution, or not responding to conventional therapy should raise concern of a misdiagnosis. We present the case of a severe rash not responding to conventional atopic dermatitis therapy that led to a diagnosis of transient neonatal zinc deficiency. Clinicians caring for children should be aware of zinc deficiency and its corresponding clinical presentation, because it is readily treatable and may lead to the avoidance of unnecessary treatments and prevention of serious complications.
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