"White dots on the placenta and red dots on the baby": congential cutaneous candidiasis--a rare disease of the neonate.
Cutaneous congenital candidiasis (CCC) is a very rare disease of the term or premature infant consisting of a generalized rash at or shortly after birth usually without other signs or symptoms. The presence of white microabscesses on the placenta and umbilical cord of an infant with such a rash must suggest the diagnosis of CCC, which is always secondary to Candida chorioamnionitis but may pass unrecognized. Despite the high prevalence of vulvo-vaginitis in pregnant women, Candida chorioamnionitis is rare and CCC remains apparently extremely rare with just some hundred cases described. However, as the condition is essentially benign and self-limited, underdiagnosis is likely. As occasional systemic spread of Candida infection is described and maternal complications may arise, diagnosis and a close follow-up or treatment is of importance. We present two cases of CCC, stressing the importance of sharing clinical findings between obstetrician and neonatologist for the diagnosis and subsequent management.
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Diana
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Epiney
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Ecoffey
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Pfister
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*