Rare disease in children aged 3 weeks to 18 months that may be fatal if untreated. The genetically determined cause is malabsorption of zinc. Onset is insidious with failure to thrive, diarrhea, loss of hair, and development of vesiculobullous lesions, particularly around body orifices.

TREATMENT
Zinc sulfate given orally will abolish all clinical manifestations of the disease within a few days.

Main entry:
acrodermatitis