Collodion baby: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION: Collodion baby “CB” is an extremely rare dermatological condition. Approximately 1 in 100,000 births are identified as infants with CB syndrome, including stillbirths (Dyer et al., 2013). A cornified substance replaces the newborn's skin, giving the body a varnished or parchment-like appearance. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient aged 30 years, third gesture, third pare, admitted for premature delivery of 8 months. After labor management, she gave birth 2 h after admission to the maternity ward of a living newborn female weighing 2400 g. The initial physical examination revealed large, thick scales all over the body. Examination of the head and neck revealed an abnormal parchment-like membrane covering the head and sparse hairs. Excessive scaling around the mouth gives a typical fish-like appearance. No other obvious abnormalities were observed. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: CB is an extremely rare dermatological condition. This is a disorder secondary to cornification. These children are generally born prematurely, and are not diagnosed until after birth. Due to the presence of a tight membrane, these babies develop numerous complications such as eclabium, ectropion, limited movement of the extremities and fingers. Treatment consists mainly of support, such as the use of intravenous fluids, incubators, tube feeding and emollients. CONCLUSION: The collodion baby is a newborn characterized by an altered skin barrier, exposing him or her to numerous complications. Fortunately, the mortality rate has fallen thanks to improved neonatal care.