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Scalded skin syndrome

Alternative Names: Ritter disease; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSS) Symptoms: fever redness of the skin (erythema) which spreads to cover most of the body skin slips off with gentle pressure leaving wet red areas (Nikolsky sign) large areas of skin peel or fall away (exfoliation or desquamation) painful skin infant appears quite ill Signs and tests: positive Nikolsky's sign (skin slipping off when rubbed) Tests include: Complete blood count (CBC) cultures of the skin and throat (often yield staphylococci) skin biopsy (done only in rare cases where diagnosis is in question, such as when the skin condition may be due to a drug reaction known as toxic epidermal necrolysis or TEN) check of electrolytes to see if fluid loss has caused difficulties

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