Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum Follow-up: Further Outpatient Care, Complications, Prognosis

Further Outpatient Care

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• Most erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN) cases resolve within 3-4 days after onset without residua.
• Rare recurrences are seen in a small number of patients up to age 6 weeks. In these instances, follow-up examination may be needed.

Complications

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• No complications of erythema toxicum neonatorum have been reported.

Prognosis

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• Prognosis of erythema toxicum neonatorum is excellent with spontaneous resolution.
• Erythema toxicum neonatorum may recur in approximately 11% of patients up to age 6 weeks. Recurrences tend to be mild and resolve without sequelae.

Patient Education

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• Reassure parents that erythema toxicum neonatorum is not inherited or infectious, has no complications, and has an excellent prognosis with spontaneous resolution.

Neil F Gibbs, MD Voluntary Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology), University of California, San Diego School of Medicine; Residency Program Director, Pediatric Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego; Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics (Secondary), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Neil F Gibbs, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Society for Pediatric Dermatology

Coauthor(s)

Meghan E Hughes, MD Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, Naval Medical Center San Diego

Meghan E Hughes, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Massachusetts Medical Society, Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society

Specialty Editor Board

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association

Van Perry, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Van Perry, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Eleanor E Sahn, MD Director, Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Associate Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina

Eleanor E Sahn, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Southern Medical Association

Acknowledgements

Trisha C Beute, MD Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth

Trisha C Beute, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert Huff, MD Dermatology, Inc

Robert Huff, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleanor E Sahn, MD Director, Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Associate Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina

Eleanor E Sahn, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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A 5-day-old newborn with erythematous papules with surrounding indistinct blotchy erythema visible on the abdomen. Image courtesy of Jining I. Wang, MD.

Yellow pustules, some with evidence of rupture, in a full-term infant at 6 hours of life.

Erythematous blotchy patches localized to the trunk in a neonate.

A Wright-Giemsa stain performed on the contents of a ruptured pustule reveal numerous eosinophils.