9/5/2016 DermatologicManifestationsofMiliariaDifferentialDiagnoses

DermatologicManifestationsofMiliariaDifferential
Diagnoses
Author:NikkiALevin,MD,PhDChiefEditor:DirkMElston,MDmore...

Updated:Feb09,2016

DiagnosticConsiderations
Miliariacrystallinaandmiliariarubraarecommonininfantstherefore,pediatricians
mustbeabletodistinguishtheseconditionsfromothercommoneruptionsthat
affectinfants.

Miliariacrystallinacanbeconfusedwithcongenitalherpessimplex,varicella,
syphilis,candidiasis,orstaphylococcalscaldedskinsyndrome.Cytologicfindingsin
theblisterfluidshouldruleouttheseconditionscytologicmethodsmayinvolve
Tzanckpreparation,Gramstaining,andpotassiumhydroxidepreparation,aswellas
theacquisitionofabiopsysampleforhistopathologicanalysis.

Miliariarubracanbeconfusedwitherythematoxicumneonatorum,infantileacne,or
folliculitis.Pustulesoferythematoxicumarecharacteristicallyfilledwitheosinophils,
unlikethoseofmiliariarubra.Infantileacnetypicallyinvolvesthefaceinafollicular
distribution.Miliariamayinvolvetheface,aswellasthetrunkandaxillae.
Superficialfolliculitis,asitsnamesuggests,isfollicular,unlikemiliaria.

DifferentialDiagnoses
Chickenpox

CutaneousCandidiasis

DermatologicManifestationsofHerpesSimplex

ErythemaToxicumNeonatorum

Folliculitis

Infantileacne

Malassezia(Pityrosporum)Folliculitis

PseudomonasFolliculitis

Viralexanthem

Workup

ContributorInformationandDisclosures
Author
NikkiALevin,MD,PhDAssociateProfessorofMedicine,DivisionofDermatology,UniversityofMassachusetts
MedicalSchool

NikkiALevin,MD,PhDisamemberofthefollowingmedicalsocieties:AlphaOmegaAlpha,American
AcademyofDermatology,PhiBetaKappa,SigmaXi

Disclosure:Nothingtodisclose.

SpecialtyEditorBoard
MichaelJWells,MD,FAADAssociateProfessor,DepartmentofDermatology,TexasTechUniversityHealth
SciencesCenter,PaulLFosterSchoolofMedicine

MichaelJWells,MD,FAADisamemberofthefollowingmedicalsocieties:AlphaOmegaAlpha,American
AcademyofDermatology,AmericanMedicalAssociation,TexasMedicalAssociation

Disclosure:Nothingtodisclose.

RosalieElenitsas,MDHermanBeermanProfessorofDermatology,UniversityofPennsylvaniaSchoolof
MedicineDirector,PennCutaneousPathologyServices,DepartmentofDermatology,UniversityofPennsylvania
HealthSystem

RosalieElenitsas,MDisamemberofthefollowingmedicalsocieties:AmericanAcademyofDermatology,
AmericanMedicalAssociation,AmericanSocietyofDermatopathology,PennsylvaniaAcademyofDermatology

Disclosure:ReceivedroyaltyfromLippincottWilliamsWilkinsfortextbookeditor.

ChiefEditor
DirkMElston,MDProfessorandChairman,DepartmentofDermatologyandDermatologicSurgery,Medical
UniversityofSouthCarolinaCollegeofMedicine

DirkMElston,MDisamemberofthefollowingmedicalsocieties:AmericanAcademyofDermatology

Disclosure:Nothingtodisclose.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1070840differential 1/2
9/5/2016 DermatologicManifestationsofMiliariaDifferentialDiagnoses
AdditionalContributors
JanetFairley,MDProfessorandHead,DepartmentofDermatology,UniversityofIowa,RoyJandLucilleA
CarverCollegeofMedicine

JanetFairley,MDisamemberofthefollowingmedicalsocieties:AmericanAcademyofDermatology,American
FederationforMedicalResearch,SocietyforInvestigativeDermatology

Disclosure:Nothingtodisclose.

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