Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSS) is a condition caused by toxins from the staphylococcus bacterium, which damage the surface layers of the skin and give it a reddened appearance similar to a burn; it affects mainly babies and young children.

Common signs: Fever, irritability, extensive redness of the skin, tenderness to the touch and peeling of surface layers usually occur.

When is it an emergency? Because it mainly affects childhood and compromises the skin barrier, when there is redness that spreads, blisters or skin that peels off it is advisable to seek care without delay.

Who treats it? Its management involves the pediatrician, the infectious disease specialist —including the pediatric infectious disease specialist— and the dermatologist. Faced with these signs in a child, seeing a health professional promptly is the most prudent thing.