Medical professionals have warned of a rise in children suffering skin reactions from resting electronic devices against bare skin.
It follows a pre-teen boy being diagnosed with erythema ab igne (EAI) – also known as toasted skin syndrome – after keeping a laptop on his stomach for up to eight hours daily.
EAI causes a net-like rash through prolonged exposure to low-level heat.
Typically seen in adults using hot water bottles or heating pads, it is becoming increasingly common among children using digital gadgets.
Medics said early recognition in paediatric cases helps avoid unnecessary tests and prevents misdiagnoses.
Writing in BMJ Case Reports, Dr Mara Znagoveanu of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said the patient went to a children’s emergency department with “spontaneous bruising”.
open image in galleryNeither the boy nor his parents could pinpoint the cause, and he was otherwise well with no trauma, fever, or weight loss. Normal scans and blood tests led to his discharge.
Two weeks later, the patient returned as the rash worsened, becoming tender and peeling.
While medics asked about common heat sources, further questioning revealed the boy was being home-schooled and used a laptop for learning.
He reported resting the device on his stomach for up to eight hours a day, usually while it was charging.
The boy was eventually diagnosed with EAI.
Dr Znagoveanu said: “As more commonly reported in adults, EAI may be overlooked in children, especially when the source of heat is less obvious than the traditional sources such as hot water bottles and heating pads.
“The increasing use of electronic devices, particularly during home schooling, has emerged as an under-recognised cause of EAI in paediatric populations”
She added that EAI might be misdiagnosed in children, leading to “unnecessary investigations” such as blood tests or scans.
open image in galleryEAI is usually reversible, with the rash improving over weeks to months once the heat source is removed.
However, in some cases it can lead to persistent hyper-pigmentation.
A number of months later, during a phone consultation, the boy’s father told doctors that the rash had eventually disappeared.
Dr Znagoveanu said: “There are currently no formal paediatric guidelines for EAI, and diagnosis remains clinical, based on history and characteristic findings.
“A limitation of this case is the lack of in-person follow- up, with resolution confirmed by the patient’s family via telephone call.
“This case highlights the importance of considering EAI in children presenting with reticulated rashes, particularly in the context of increasing electronic device use.
“Early recognition through targeted history-taking can prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary investigations.”