Four Cases of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

Park, Chul Han; Jeong, Yoo Jin; Choi, Won Jung; Park, Sat Byul; Kim, Heung Sik; Kang, Chin Moo

Abstract

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is a systemic disease with a clinical spectrum ranging from subcorneal pustules, patterned exfoliation to extensive erosion and peeling of skin by the exfoliative toxin of group II Staphylococcus aureus. This disease occurs mainly in infancy and children below five years and it isn't easy to differentiate from other vesicular diseases clinically, but skin biopsy shows an epidermal split at the granular layer. The form and severity of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome will vary according to defense system and toxic factors. Treatment is effective antibiotics, and the mortality rate increases to 5% in children. In our four cases, symptoms were erythema and fever, followed by formation of large bullae and denuded skin. On laboratory findings, leukocytosis was noted in three cases, and S. aureus was confirmed by culture of eye discharge in all cases. Our cases improved with antibiotic therapy. We experienced four cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome which were presented with vesicle and exfoliative skin lesion and treated successfully.