ANNULAR ERYTHEMA OF INFANCY - A NEW EOSIN OPHILIC DERMATOSIS

Annular erythema of infancy is a rare and little-known entity. Since i ts initial description by Peterson and Jarratt in 1981 only 4 further cases have been reported. We present the first case in the German lite rature. A 4-year-old boy developed non-itching erythematous papules on the trunk which evolved into annular and gyrate erythemas within week s. The condition showed a relapsing course with disease-free intervals of several months duration. There were no general complaints. Laborat ory investigations including detailed serological tests for infectious diseases were normal. Histopathology showed a striking eosinophilic i nflammatory infiltrate predominantly in perivascular areas, without pe ripheral blood eosinophilia. The clinical differential diagnosis of an nular erythema of infancy includes erythema annulare centrifugum, whil e microscopically one must exclude eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syn drome). The etiology is unknown and there is no effective therapy. In our case, as well as in all previously published cases,the disease res olved spontaneously. Therefore, it may be considered benign and self-l imited.