title: The child with recalcitrant dermatitis: when to worry?
abstract: Dermatitis is a frequent cause for referral to the pediatric dermatologist. In this article, a brief overview is given of common childhood dermatoses as well as some rarer dermatoses that may give the clinician cause for concern. Widespread scaling and erythema, described as erythroderma, are a cause of frustration for patients, families, and their physician(s). Both unusual and common skin disorders can present in this fashion. Just as recognizing common dermatoses is important, it is also important to recognize when a dermatitis fails to fit the common pattern and may prompt further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, 200 North Wolfe Street, Suite 2107, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Moise L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index