Scalded skin syndrome is caused by infection with certain strains of bacteria in the Staphylococcus family. During the infection, the staphylococci produce a poison that causes the skin damage.
Scalded skin syndrome is found most commonly in infants and children under the age of 5.
Symptoms:
Fever
Large areas of skin peel or fall away (exfoliation or desquamation)
Painful skin
Redness of the skin (erythema), which spreads to cover most of the body
Skin slips off with gentle pressure, leaving wet red areas (Nikolsky sign)
Signs and tests:
Positive Nikolsky's sign (skin slipping off when rubbed)
Skin biopsy (done only in rare cases, such as when the skin condition may be due to a drug reaction known as toxic epidermal necrolysis or TEN)
Review Date: 11/12/2007
Reviewed By: Rachel A. Lewis, M.D., F.A.A.P., Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Infectious Diseases, General Pediatrics
