Ritter exfoliative dermatitis – a severe form of staphylococcal pyoderma of the newborn, is considered as a septic variant of pemphigus. Caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which produces exotoxin – exfoliatin. The disease begins at the end of the 1st – beginning of the 2nd week of life.
The main clinical manifestations: redness and wet skin, cracks in the navel, inguinal folds and around the mouth. In severe cases – the tendency to the spread of bright erythema on the skin of the abdomen, trunk, limbs. Later, flaccid bubbles, extensive erosion appear, the body of the newborn takes the form of burnt boiling water. Often there are other foci of purulent infection (omphalitis, otitis media, pneumonia, etc.), children refuse to breast, restless. The temperature is febrile, there is neutrophilic leukocytosis, increased ESR, deafness of heart sounds, hepatomegaly, less often, an increase in the spleen. Symptom Nikolsky is often positive.