funDERMentals

Baby Has Rash; Parents Feel Itchy

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A 5-month-old baby is brought in by his parents for evaluation of a rash that manifested on his hands several weeks ago. It then spread to his arms and trunk and is now essentially everywhere except his face. Despite a number of treatment attempts, including use of oral antibiotics (cephalexin suspension 125/5 cc) and OTC topical steroid creams, the problem has persisted.

Prior to dermatology, they had consulted a pediatrician. He suggested the child might have scabies, for which he prescribed permethrin cream. The parents tried it, but it made little if any difference.

Neither the child nor his parents are atopic. However, both parents have recently started to feel itchy.

EXAMINATION
The child is afebrile and in no acute distress. Hundreds of tiny papules are scattered on his trunk, arms, and legs, with a particular concentration on his palms. Several of the papules, on closer examination, prove to be vesicles (ie, filled with clear fluid).

One of these lesions, on the child’s volar wrist, is scraped and the sample examined under the microscope. Magnification at 10x power reveals an adult scabies organism and a number of rugby ball–shaped eggs.

Both parents are also examined and found to have probable scabies as well. The mother’s lesions are concentrated around the anterior axillary areas and waistline. The father’s are on his volar wrists and penis.

What is the diagnosis?

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