STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME (Ritter's disease)

STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME (Ritter’s disease)

• Erythema and tenderness followed by the loosening of large areas of overlying epidermis.
• More In children and infant.
• Caused by a toxin produced by staphylococcal infection elsewhere (e.g. impetigo or conjunctivitis).

Skin Manifestations and Mechanism

• Skin appearance:
  • Normal Skin
  • Blister

• Mechanism:
• toxins cleave the superficial skin adhesion molecule to disrupt adhesion high in the epidermis causing the stratum corneum to slough off.

• Presentation details:
  • Tender red skin.
  • Heals 7 - 14 day.
  • Fluid from bullae is sterile but the S. aureus can be isolated from distant sites, such as the nose.

Treatment

• oral or intravenous flucloxacillin.
• The patient’s skin lubricated with light lotions.