LAMELLAR ICHTHYOSIS WITH BILATERAL ECTROPION IN A NIGERIAN INFANT: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Lamellar ichthyosis is a rare genetic dermatosis, mostly inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. Though not generally life-threatening, its distinctive features are not only distressing to the newborn but pose a challenge to the Nigerian mother due to the poor knowledge and understanding of genodermatoses. Several case reports have documented its occurrence amongst Nigerian children but its exact prevalence remains unknown.

We describe an eight-month-old male infant who presented at the Paediatric emergency unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), where he was first diagnosed and managed for lamellar ichthyosis with bilateral ectropion complicated by sepsis and malnutrition. This case underscores the peculiar challenges with the medical management of lamellar ichthyosis, including late presentation, in limited-resource settings.

Keywords: Lamellar ichthyosis, Uyo, social stigma, collodion baby