BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuScalded skin syndromeRitter disease; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome; SSSScalded skin syndrome (SSS) is a skin infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria in which the skin becomes damaged and sheds. Causes Scalded skin syndrome is caused by infection with certain strains of staphylococcus bacteria. The bacteria produce a toxin that causes the skin damage. The damage creates blisters, as if the skin were scalded by heat. These blisters can occur at areas of the skin away from the initial site.SSS is found most commonly in infants and children under the age of 5. Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Blisters Fever Large areas of skin peel or fall away (exfoliation or desquamation) Painful skin Redness of the skin (erythema), which spreads to cover most of the body ErythemaRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin slips off with gentle pressure, leaving wet red areas (Nikolsky sign)Nikolsky signNikolsky sign is a skin finding in which the top layers of the skin slip away from the lower layers when rubbed.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and look at the skin. The exam may show that the skin slips off when it is rubbed (positive Nikolsky sign).Tests may include:Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cultures of the skin, throat and nose, and blood SkinA skin or nail culture is a laboratory test to look for and identify germs that cause problems with the skin or nails. It is called a mucosal culture...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Throat and noseNasopharyngeal culture is a test that examines a sample of secretions from the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose, to detect organisms tha...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BloodA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Electrolyte test ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin biopsy (in rare cases) Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Antibiotics are given by mouth or through a vein (intravenously; IV) to help fight the infection. IV fluids are also given to prevent dehydration. Much of the body's fluid is lost through open skin. Moist compresses to the skin may improve comfort. You can apply a moisturizing ointment to keep the skin moist. Healing begins about 10 days after treatment. Outlook (Prognosis) A full recovery is expected. Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Abnormal level of fluids in the body causing dehydration or electrolyte imbalance DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poor temperature control (in young infants) Severe bloodstream infection (septicemia) SepticemiaSepticemia is bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) that often occurs with severe infections. Also called sepsis, septicemia is a serious, life-threate...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spread to deeper skin infection (cellulitis) CellulitisCellulitis is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. It affects the middle layer of the skin (dermis) and the tissues below. Sometimes, muscle...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of this disorder. Prevention The disorder may not be preventable. Treating any staphylococcus infection quickly can help.Open ReferencesReferencesPaller AS, Mancini AJ. Bacterial, mycobacterial, and protozoal infections of the skin. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, eds. Paller and Mancini-Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.Pallin DJ. Skin infections. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 129.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Fever(Symptoms)Skin blushing/flushing(Symptoms)Septicemia(Condition)Cellulitis(Condition) Review Date: 11/23/2021 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Scalded skin syndromeRitter disease; Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome; SSSScalded skin syndrome (SSS) is a skin infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria in which the skin becomes damaged and sheds. Causes Scalded skin syndrome is caused by infection with certain strains of staphylococcus bacteria. The bacteria produce a toxin that causes the skin damage. The damage creates blisters, as if the skin were scalded by heat. These blisters can occur at areas of the skin away from the initial site.SSS is found most commonly in infants and children under the age of 5. Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Blisters Fever Large areas of skin peel or fall away (exfoliation or desquamation) Painful skin Redness of the skin (erythema), which spreads to cover most of the body ErythemaRashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin slips off with gentle pressure, leaving wet red areas (Nikolsky sign)Nikolsky signNikolsky sign is a skin finding in which the top layers of the skin slip away from the lower layers when rubbed.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and look at the skin. The exam may show that the skin slips off when it is rubbed (positive Nikolsky sign).Tests may include:Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cultures of the skin, throat and nose, and blood SkinA skin or nail culture is a laboratory test to look for and identify germs that cause problems with the skin or nails. It is called a mucosal culture...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Throat and noseNasopharyngeal culture is a test that examines a sample of secretions from the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose, to detect organisms tha...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BloodA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Electrolyte test ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin biopsy (in rare cases) Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Antibiotics are given by mouth or through a vein (intravenously; IV) to help fight the infection. IV fluids are also given to prevent dehydration. Much of the body's fluid is lost through open skin. Moist compresses to the skin may improve comfort. You can apply a moisturizing ointment to keep the skin moist. Healing begins about 10 days after treatment. Outlook (Prognosis) A full recovery is expected. Possible Complications Complications that may result include:Abnormal level of fluids in the body causing dehydration or electrolyte imbalance DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poor temperature control (in young infants) Severe bloodstream infection (septicemia) SepticemiaSepticemia is bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) that often occurs with severe infections. Also called sepsis, septicemia is a serious, life-threate...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spread to deeper skin infection (cellulitis) CellulitisCellulitis is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. It affects the middle layer of the skin (dermis) and the tissues below. Sometimes, muscle...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of this disorder. Prevention The disorder may not be preventable. Treating any staphylococcus infection quickly can help.Open ReferencesReferencesPaller AS, Mancini AJ. Bacterial, mycobacterial, and protozoal infections of the skin. In: Paller AS, Mancini AJ, eds. Paller and Mancini-Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 14.Pallin DJ. Skin infections. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 129.