Generalised blistering in an infant following vaccination

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Immunology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease.
• While typically affecting the elderly, rare cases have been reported in children.
• The potential association between vaccinations and autoimmune conditions is an area of ongoing research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of bullous pemphigoid in an infant.
• To investigate the potential link between pentavalent vaccination and the onset of bullous pemphigoid.
• To describe the management and outcome of this rare pediatric case.

Main Methods:

• Clinical presentation of a male infant with itchy, fluid-filled lesions.
• Immunological tests to confirm the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.
• Treatment regimen including corticosteroids and dapsone.

Main Results:

• The infant presented with characteristic "string-of-pearl" lesions post-vaccination.
• Diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was immunologically confirmed.
• Successful treatment with corticosteroids and dapsone led to significant improvement.
• Subsequent vaccine doses were administered without relapse.

Conclusions:

• Pentavalent vaccination may be a potential trigger for bullous pemphigoid in susceptible infants.
• Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for managing pediatric bullous pemphigoid.
• The safety of continued vaccination schedules in such cases was demonstrated.