Scalded Skin syndrome (Ritter Disease) - Medtick
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Scalded Skin syndrome (Ritter Disease)

What is it?

A serious bacterial skin that resembles burnt-looking skin, skin peeling and blisters.

  • All persons carry this bacteria on the skin, however if one has a skin injury or cracked skin, the bacteria enters the skin and releases its toxins and breaks up the skin structure (the upper layer) causing the conditions symptoms.
  • It can enter the blood stream and cause more serious complications especially to those who have a weak immune system especially infants, children and those with kidney disease and/or those vulnerable to electrolyte imbalance i.e. sodium and/or potassium related conditions.
The application of gentle pressure to the skin will also cause sloughing (separation of dead from living tissue) which is known as a Nikolsky sign.

Cause

  • Bacteria:
    • Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria involved releases its toxins to cause symptoms)
    •  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). 
  • Recent bacterial infection:

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours and approximately?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Sore throat for seven days or more?
  • Crusty sore: on babies in diaper region and/or and the area around the bellybutton are most often affected (point of bacteria entry), on children: the area around the mouth, eyes and ears is often affected on adults: it can be anywhere?
  • On skin red and/or tender skin, either limited to the entry point of the bacteria or widespread?
  • Skin resembling a hot water burn or scalding of the skin and/or have a wrinkled tissue paper–like consistency?
  • Easily broken blisters and shallow sore?
  • Peeling skin, which can come off in large sheets?
  • Rash spreads rapidly with a propensity to affect the area around the mouth (perioral area) and areas where the skin creases, especially on the legs, arms, groin and neck?
  • Irritability, anxiety and depression (short term) due to peeling skin?
  • Lack of appetite?
  • Conjunctivitis?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Sepsis
  • Necrotising fasciitis
  • Cellulitis
  • Widespread peeling of skin and burnt skin
  • Dehydration
  • Pneumonia
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • Tachycardia (fast heart beat)
  • Tachypnoea (fast breathing/ breathing difficulties)
  • Delirium -(Medical emergency)
    • Problem with attention (This could mean the person is inattentive and does not focus or that he or she can focus on tasks but at the expense of all else — failure to shift attention.)
    • Disorganised thinking (such as not being able to remember things or being confused)
    • Altered level of consciousness (hyper-alertness and on edge, or sluggish, drowsy or withdrawn)
    • Change is sudden and/or does it fluctuate over hours or days

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Scalded Skin syndrome (Ritter Disease) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Drugs.com

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