Congenital cutaneous candidiasis is a type of candida infection in newborn babies, which appears as generalized red patches and small

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on the

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or in the mouth, appearing at birth or a few days after birth. It can also occur as more serious widespread disseminated type. It is caused by '' Candida'' (a type of

yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constit ...

), usually as a complication following premature rupture of membranes in a mother with vaginal thrush. Diagnosis cannot usually be made before birth. It may be suspected by observing white-yellow spots on the placenta and around the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord may have areas of

dead tissue Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated diges ...

calcification Calcification is the accumulation of calcium salts in a body tissue. It normally occurs in the formation of bone, but calcium can be deposited abnormally in soft tissue,Miller, J. D. Cardiovascular calcification: Orbicular origins. ''Nature Ma ...

. A sample of the cord under the microscope usually shows inflammation of the blood vessel walls, with lots of white blood cells, and the fungal filaments may be seen when the sample is stained. It is rare. The earliest known reports of new-born fungal infections in newborns following pregnancy were in the 19th century. The condition was previously known as 'Beck-Ibrahim disease', a term now abandoned due the association of Ibrahim with Nazi euthanasia.

Signs and symptoms

It may present as generalized red patches and small

on the

, appearing at birth or a few days after birth. There may be inflamed eyes, lung infection, and the baby may have swollen vagina and vulva. It can also occur as a more serious widespread disseminated type. Other features include difficulty breathing, fits,

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, a distended abdomen, poor feeding, a fluctuating temperature and high sugars.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis cannot usually be made before birth. It may be suspected by observing muddy looking amniotic fluid, or white-yellow spots on the placenta and around the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord may have areas of

Cause

It is caused by '' Candida'' (a type of

), usually as a complication following premature rupture of membranes in a mother with vaginal thrush.

References

Mycosis-related cutaneous conditions {{Cutaneous-infection-stub