Author: Ifunanya Linda Mbah, Faisal Faruqi / Editor: Sarah Edwards / Codes: DC5, SLO5 / Published: 18/11/2025
A 2-year-old previously healthy girl presents to the emergency department (ED) with 2 days of a history of fever, irritability and a rapidly spreading rash. She appears unwell but is not in acute distress. She has a recent history of travel to France.
She isn’t on any regular medication, has no allergies and her vaccines are up to date.
On assessment, she has a temperature of 38.5°C, HR-110b/m, alert but irritable.
She has a diffuse erythematous rash with areas of exfoliation particularly in the flexural area (neck, axilla, groin). Flaccid bullae are present and gentle pressure leads to skin sloughing.
No mucosal lesions are seen.