See Also
1. Newborn Skin Exam
Definition
1. Most common pustular dermatitis in newborns
Epidemiology
1. Incidence: 30-70% of all infants
2. More common in term infants (birth weight >2500 grams)
Symptoms
1. Newborn rash with flea-bitten appearance
2. Occurs 24 hours to 2 weeks after birth
3. Lesions fade in 1 week (may recur in first few weeks of life)
Signs
1. Characteristics: Follicular, yellowish-hued, papulovesicular lesions
  1. Starts as Macule or Papule
  2. Develops Pustules later
  3. Lesions sorrounded by irregular erythema
2. Size: lesions are 1 to 3 mm in diameter
3. Distribution
  1. Involved areas: Face, trunk, and proximal arms, and legs
  2. Spared areas: palms and soles
4. No associated organ involvement
  1. Contrast with Neonatal HSV (e.g. Hepatomegaly)
Labs
1. Vesicles contain Eosinophils on Gram Stain or wright stain
2. Negative culture
3. Complete Blood Count
  1. Differential with increased Eosinophils
Differential Diagnosis
1. See Neonatal Pustules and Vessicles
2. Neonatal HSV
Management
1. None needed for this benign dermatitis
2. Resolves spontaneously
References
1. Liu (2005) Dermatology 210:269

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/10/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.