Collodion baby treated at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: a case report

The term "collodion baby" is used to describe a newborn covered with a translucent, parchment-like skin sheet. It is an extremely rare condition with an estimated incidence of 1 in 300,000 live births. Clinically, the baby will present with a collodion membrane with fissures, ectropium, eclabium, and hypoplastic digits. Shedding of the membrane increases risk of dehydration and infection.

We present the case of an African baby girl, who died when she was 7-months old, who presented with features of collodion membrane at birth. She later developed hypernatremic dehydration and a constricted band on her lower limb that required urgent surgical release. She stayed in our hospital for 35 days; she was then discharged home after improvement for 6 months of follow-up clinics at Muhimbili National Hospital: neonatal; dermatology; ear, nose, and throat; and physiotherapy units. She died at 7 months of age.

Despite limited resources, the early survival of these babies can be improved by providing basic care.