Tinea cruris in a child with lamellar ichthyosis.

Abstract

Congenital lamellar ichthyosis is at one end of the clinical spectrum of recessive congenital ich-thyosis, whereas at the other end there is erythrodermic ichthyosis. At birth the patient presents a superficial layer of thickened and shiny skin, reminiscent of a collodion membrane. In spite of its increased thickness, this membrane does not carry the barrier task of the normal skin, thus predisposing to hypernatriemic dehydration, hypothermia and infections.
This is why serum electrolytes should be monitored in these children at birth. Moreover, the thermal instability of these children can mask the signs of systemic infection.
As showed by our case, also mycotic infections are more frequent in children with lamellar ich-thyosis.