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Benign carotenaemia in children
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 1, 1981
Insights
Yellow skin in infants can be caused by carotenaemia, often linked to homogenized diets. Reducing carotene intake resolves this harmless skin discoloration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Nutrition
Background:
- Carotenaemia is a condition characterized by yellow skin pigmentation due to excessive beta-carotene intake.
- It is often mistaken for jaundice but does not involve yellowing of the sclera.
Observation:
- Six children, five under one year old, presented with yellow skin due to carotenaemia.
- A partly homogenized diet was common among the affected children, potentially enhancing carotene absorption.
- The skin pigmentation resolved upon reduction of dietary carotene.
Findings:
- Dietary carotene intake and food texture influence serum carotene levels and subsequent skin pigmentation.
- Early identification in infants is crucial, distinguishing it from other causes of yellow skin.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should consider carotenaemia in infants with yellow skin, particularly if the sclera is normal.
- Dietary modifications, specifically reducing carotene-rich foods or altering food texture, can effectively manage carotenaemia.
- This highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between diet, absorption, and visible physiological changes in pediatric dermatology.
Abstract:
Six children presented with yellow pigmentation of the skin as a result of carotenaemia, and 5 were aged less than 1 year when this was first noted. Serum carotene levels depend on carotene intake, and absorption is promoted if food is of a fine texture. Five of the children were fed a partly homogenised diet. Pigmentation resolved when the carotene intake was reduced. This condition should be suspected, especially in young children, if the skin is yellow while the sclera remains a normal colour.