PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Pemphigus foliaceus is a skin disease in which antibodies against the cell surface of keratinocytes destroy the adhesion between epidermal c ells, thereby producing blisters. It is a rare disease in childhood, a nd treatment guidelines for juvenile pemphigus foliaceus are lacking. An 8 year old boy with pemphigus foliaceus is described. He did not re spond to topical steroids, and the condition flared up when high dose oral steroids were tapered. The lesions resolved completely in four we eks on dapsone, which was maintained for nine months with no major adv erse effects, except for a moderate increase of the methaemoglobin con centration at the outset of treatment. There has been no evidence of d isease reactivation in more than nine months of follow up since dapson e withdrawal.