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Scalded skin syndrome - Symptom

Alternative Names

Ritter disease; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSS)

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's sign)

Signs and tests:

Positive Nikolsky's sign (skin slipping off when rubbed)

Tests include:

Complete blood count (CBC)
Cultures of the skin and throat
Electrolyte test
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)

Reviewed last on: 11/12/2007
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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Scalded skin syndrome - Symptom

Alternative Names

Symptoms:

Signs and tests: