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Pediatric erythema ab igne: clinical aspects and diagnostic issues

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Abstract

Erythema ab igne is a dermatological condition resulting from repeated low-grade heat exposure (below the burning point), which can variably manifest with reticulated erythema and skin hyperpigmentation. Not infrequently, the cause of such a skin disorder is not immediately evident or reported by patients, especially if these are children. Compared to adults, erythema ab igne is rare in children and, if the general practitioners and pediatricians are not aware of this disorder, pediatric patients are often addressed to rheumatologists and/or undergo useless immunological investigations. Here, we performed a systematic case-based review, which finally included 32 cases of pediatric erythema ab igne (in addition to our new clinical report), and discussed the main clinical aspects and issues of this clinical entity in children. In detail, similarities of erythema ab igne with livedo reticularis and/or vasculitis-related rashes sometimes can lead to perform a panel of immunological investigations, which could be avoided. Indeed, our analysis emphasizes the importance of a careful and complete patient's anamnesis, including active questioning about the potential exposure to any physical agents (including heat sources) that may cause dermatological lesions. We also highlight some peculiarities in terms of location and heat injury in children developing erythema ab igne, based on the presence or absence of comorbidities.

Conclusion: The occurrence of erythema ab igne in children (and especially in adolescents) is likely to increase in the next years because of the greater and sometimes inappropriate use of technological devices. Physicians should be aware of this condition in order to prevent patients from useless investigations, especially in the differential diagnosis of rheumatic disorders. A careful and complete patient's history with active questioning about the potential exposure to heating source is often decisive to diagnose erythema ab igne.

What is Known:

• Erythema ab igne is a dermatological condition which is mainly described in adults exposed to heating source at the workplace.

What is New:

• The occurrence of erythema ab igne in children is likely to increase in the next years because of the greater and sometimes inappropriate use of technological devices.

• Erythema ab igne in children can be classified in two main categories, based on the presence or absence of comorbidity.

• A careful and complete anamnesis (including the active questioning about potential exposure to any heating source) is the mainstay for diagnosing erythema ab igne in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Kerei-Zhanibek Str. 5/1, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

    Dimitri Poddighe & Akbota Aman

  2. Clinical Academic Department of Pediatrics, National Research Center of Mother and Child Health, University Medical Center, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

    Dimitri Poddighe

  3. Program of Pediatric Rheumatology, Clinical Academic Department of Pediatrics, National Research Center of Mother and Child Health, University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan

    Maykesh Assylbekova, Zhaina Almukhamedova & Zaure Mukusheva

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  1. Dimitri Poddighe
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  2. Maykesh Assylbekova
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  3. Zhaina Almukhamedova
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  4. Akbota Aman
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  5. Zaure Mukusheva
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Contributions

D.P. performed the literature search; Z.A. and A.A. managed and described the case presentation; D.P. wrote the manuscript; D.P., M.A., and Z.M. provided intellectual contribution.

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Correspondence to Dimitri Poddighe.

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Communicated by Peter de Winter

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Poddighe, D., Assylbekova, M., Almukhamedova, Z. et al. Pediatric erythema ab igne: clinical aspects and diagnostic issues. Eur J Pediatr 182, 4807–4832 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05155-1

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