It causes large, peeling blisters that look burnt or scalded.
SSSS mostly affects infants and toddlers but may also affect adults with severely weakened immune systems.
SSSS is mainly diagnosed by its appearance, although lab tests may be ordered to rule out other causes.
SDI Productions / Getty Images
SDI Productions / Getty Images
Causes of SSSS
SSSS is a complication of astaph infection.
While all strains ofS.
ETA and ETB act like scissors, cutting away proteins calleddesmoglein-3that hold together theoutermost layers of skin.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Dr Lawrence Meyersondermnetnz.org2023.
Newborns are usually safe as they have naturally high levels of desmoglein-3 in their skin.
These outbreaks tend to occur during cold and flu season, and are most common in autumn.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Oradermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Dr Lawrence Meyersondermnetnz.org2023.
Unlike children, SSSS in adults is not influenced by season and can occur at any time.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Te Whatu Oradermnetnz.org2023.
As the blisters burst, they give the skin a characteristic wrinkled appearance.
SSSS usually has a second period of desquamation 10 days after the first, followed by rapid healing.
SSSS in adults usually starts with a localized bacterial infection.
Without the immune defenses to fight the infection,S.
aureuscan become systemic, meaning it can enter the bloodstream and affect the entire body.
For this reason, SSSS can sometimes involve most or all of the body of immunocompromised adults.
With appropriate treatment, SSSS in adults can also heal with little, if any, scarring.
Complications
If not treated appropriately, SSSS can lead to serious complications.
Blood cultures may be ordered to isolateS.
aureus,but doing so is usually only helpful in adults, who are more likely to have bacteremia.
In children with SSSS, blood cultures are almost always negative.
A nasal, oral, anal, or periocular (eye) swab can usually isolateS.
aureusin children and adults.
Gentle wound care withtopical antibioticsmay be recommended to aid with healing.
Prognosis
If treated appropriately, full recovery from SSSS in children takes around two weeks.
Adults with SSSS may take longer given their weakened immune state.
Even so, most who recover do so with minimal or no scarring.
Although SSSS is more common in children, complications of SSSS are far more common in adults.
Children with SSSS rarely have any such comorbidity.
aureusor objects they touched.
This includes other kids in day care or caregivers in nurseries who handle babies.
To prevent getting and transmittingS.
It is most common in children under 5 but can also affect adults with compromised immune systems.
Most treated individuals will recover without scarring.
