A 5-year-old boy presents with annular plaques bordered by tense vesicles arranged like a rosary over the lower abdomen, groin, and perioral area. DIF shows linear IgA along the basement membrane zone. His mother asks about the outlook. Which statement is correct?

• A It requires lifelong gluten-free diet for control
• B It invariably progresses to cicatricial scarring of mucosae
• C It usually remits spontaneously before puberty ✓
• D It carries a high risk of underlying lymphoma

Explanation

Chronic bullous disease of childhood is the paediatric form of linear IgA bullous dermatosis. The string of pearls arrangement of vesicles around annular plaques is its signature presentation. Most children remit spontaneously within 2 to 4 years, typically before puberty, although relapses can occur. Scarring mucosal disease defines mucous membrane pemphigoid, and gluten-free diet applies to dermatitis herpetiformis, not this condition.

Reference: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.