Paediatrics Publications
Severe Infant Rash Resistant to Therapy Due to Zinc Deficiency
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2017
Journal
Pediatric Emergency Care
Volume
33
Issue
8
First Page
582
Last Page
584
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000001218
Abstract
Pediatric skin diseases are a common presenting complaint to emergency medicine physicians but often pose a significant diagnostic challenge. Skin eruptions that are unusually severe for the diagnosis in question, lasting beyond the typical time of resolution, or not responding to conventional therapy should raise concern of a misdiagnosis. We present the case of a severe rash not responding to conventional atopic dermatitis therapy that led to a diagnosis of transient neonatal zinc deficiency. Clinicians caring for children should be aware of zinc deficiency and its corresponding clinical presentation, because it is readily treatable and may lead to the avoidance of unnecessary treatments and prevention of serious complications.
