THE RELATIONSHIP OF DERMATITIS EXFOLIATIVA NEONATORUM RITTER AND IMPETIGO BULLOSA IN THE ADULT

The etiology of dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum Ritter is as yet not definitely established. In reviewing the literature, one finds the following opinions :

1. Dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum is but a pathologic expression of the physiologic exfoliation of the new-born (Bohn¹ and Winternitz²).

2. Dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum is closely related to the same group as epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria (Caspary,³ Elliot⁴ and Kaposi⁵).

3. Dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum and Leiner's erythrodermia desquamativa are one and the same disease (Ronchi⁶ and Dalla Favera⁷).

4. Dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum and pemphigus neonatorum are one and the same disease. The severity and the high mortality of dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum as compared with the relatively benign pemphigus neonatorum is due to the age of the child (Richter,⁸ Hansteen,⁹ Hedinger,¹⁰ Hofmann,¹¹ Delbanco,¹² Pockels,¹³ Szarca¹⁴ and others).

5. Dermatitis exfoliativa neonatorum is the cutaneous manifestation of