Diagnosis: Linear IgA disease
Description: Bullae and vesicles on erythematous background
Morphology: Blisters
Site: Thigh
Sex: M
Age: 4
Type: Clinical
Submitted By: Shahbaz Janjua
Differential DiagnosisHistory:
This 4-year-old boy presented with a seven month history of developing a vesiculobullous eruption affecting the lower limbs, the buttocks, and the face. Physical examination revealed mutiple clear round vesicles, bullae and erosions on a marked erythematous back ground. Many of the bullae were arranged to depict the string of pearls and cluster of jewels signs. Oral mucosa was not involved. A tzank smear and gram stain were negative. Other tests are pending. His treatment consisted of dapsone and prednisolone. Linear IgA dermatosis also known as chronic bullous disease of childhood, is a rare, autoimmune subepidermal vesiculobullous disease that may be idiopathic or drug-induced. It is most common in the non reproductive years, so it has a bimodal age of onset. It is histopathologically characterized by the linear deposition of IgA at the basement membrane zone.