Erythema neonatorum allergicum is a dermatitis of the newborn infant consisting of erythema, papules, and pustules appearing in the first three days of life and disappearing by the sixth day. Only about 10% of the cases are severe enough to present pustules. The lesions may appear anywhere on the body, but the anterior trunk is the commonest site. The pustules are sterile and contain over 90% eosinophils. Its importance lies in its high incidence (one-third of all newborn) and its recognition and differentiation from potentially serious cutaneous disorders affecting the infant. Since it is not presented in the dermatological textbooks and no report of it was found in the dermatological literature in this country, the following review and survey are presented.
The physicians of ancient Mesopotamia recognized an eruption of the newborn and believed it to be nature's method of cleansing the child of impure