Febrile perianal streptococcal dermatitis

We describe a child with an unusual presentation of perianal streptococcal dermatitis which included fever, acral scarletiniform desquamation, and ext ension of erythema to involve the genitalia and proximal thighs, as well as the commonly seen well-defined erythema of the perianal area, We suggest t hat isolated group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GAS) in our patient produ ced a pyrogenic exotoxin similar to that which appears in scarlet fever.