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Diaper rash - Symptom

Alternative Names

Dermatitis - diaper and Candida; Candida-associated diaper dermatitis; Diaper dermatitis

Symptoms:

You may notice the following in your child's diaper area:

Bright red rash that gets bigger
Fiery red and scaly areas on the scrotum and penis in boys
Red or scaly areas on the labia and vagina in girls
Pimples, blisters, ulcers, large bumps, or pus-filled sores
Smaller red patches (called satellite lesions) that grow and blend in with the other patches

Older infants may scratch when the diaper is removed.

Diaper rashes usually do NOT spread beyond the edge of the diaper.

Signs and tests:

Yeast or Candida-related diaper rashes often can be diagnosed by the appearance alone. The KOH test can confirm a Candida diagnosis.

Candida, flourescent stain

Diaper rash

Reviewed last on: 8/2/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Tallia A, Scherger J, Dickey N, eds. Swanson's Family Medicine Review. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008: chap 103.

Morelli JG. Cutaneous Fungal Infections. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 658.

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