Congenital cutaneous candidiasis associated with respiratory distress in a full-term newborn.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Congenital candidiasis is rare occurring in most cases in premature and low birth weight new born. It can produce a spectrum of disease ranging from a diffuse skin eruption to a severe systemic disease with or without skin involvement. Amphotericin B is the first-line agent for the treatment of systemic disease. AIM: To describe a congenital candidiasis in a full-term newborn. CASE REPORT At birth, the newborn had a generalized, erythematous, papulovesicular eruption. He was treated by topic antifungal therapy. However, on the third day, he developed a systemic disease with respiratory distress and fever. Ear, skin swab and gastric aspirate grew to Candida albicans. The newborn was given fluconazole for 10 days with favourable outcome. CONCLUSION: Early topic therapy did not prevent systemic spread of congenital cutaneous candidiasis in our case. Treatment with fluconazole, as the first-line agent, seems effective and safe.