Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in a Ten-Month-Old Male

A 10-month-old male presented with rhinorrhea and decreased oral intake and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. Two days later, he returned to the clinic due to a lack of improvement and the onset of new symptoms, including facial edema and perioral skin irritation. That evening, he became febrile at 100.4 °F and went to the emergency department at the local children's hospital. No further workup was done and the parents were instructed to continue with the current treatment regimen. Over the next 48 hours, the patient's symptoms worsened with the new onset of bilateral extremity edema and desquamation. The patient was returned to the emergency department. A physical exam was notable for a blanching, desquamating, erythematous rash on the face and creases of the arms, legs, and groin. A positive Nikolsky sign was reported. A clinical diagnosis of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) was made, and the patient was started on intravenous clindamycin. This case illustrates a severe presentation of SSSS in a pediatric patient, demonstrating the challenges it poses to diagnosis and treatment.