Infectious Pediatric Dermatological Emergencies: A Clinico-Epidemiological Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in South India

Background: Infectious dermatological emergencies in children comprise a diverse group of conditions requiring prompt recognition and multidisciplinary management. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are essential to reduce morbidity and improve outcomes. However, data describing the epidemiological and clinical profile of these conditions in the pediatric population are limited, particularly from India.

Objectives: To study the clinico-epidemiological profile and spectrum of infectious dermatological emergencies in children presenting to a tertiary care centre.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included children aged ≤15 years presenting with infectious dermatological emergencies to the Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Bapuji Hospital and Chigateri General Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, between November 2014 and August 2016. Clinical and demographic details were recorded using a structured proforma, and descriptive analysis was performed.

Results: Eighteen children with infectious dermatological emergencies were included in the study. Males were affected more frequently than females. The neonatal age group constituted the largest proportion of cases. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome was the most common infectious dermatosis, accounting for 61.1% of cases, followed by neonatal varicella (16.7%), rickettsial fever (16.7%), and herpes zoster (5.6%). Infectious dermatoses represented 28.1% of all pediatric dermatological emergencies encountered during the study period.

Conclusion: Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome was the predominant infectious dermatological emergency in this study, with neonates representing the most commonly affected age group. Awareness of the clinical spectrum of infectious dermatological emergencies can facilitate early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and improved patient outcomes. Further multicentric studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to better characterize these uncommon conditions.