Collodion baby and Ear Symptoms
Collodion baby- The term applies to newborns who appear to have an extra layer of skin (known as a collodion membrane) that has collodion-dry Vaseline -like quality. It is a descriptive term, not a specific diagnosis or disorder (as such, it is a syndrome). Affected babies are born in a collodion membrane, a shiny waxy outer layer to the skin. This is shed 10-14 days after birth, revealing the main symptom of the disease, extensive scaling of the skin caused by hyperkeratosis. With increasing age, the scaling tends to be concentrated around joints in areas such as the groin, the armpits, the inside of the elbow and the neck. The scales often tile the skin and may resemble fish scales.
The eyelids, nostrils and mouth may have the appearance of being forced open due to the tightness of the skin. There can be associated eversion of the eyelids – ectropion.
Collodion baby can have severe medical consequences, mainly because the baby can lose heat and fluid through the abnormal skin. This can lead to hypothermia and dehydration. Strategies to prevent these problems are the use of emollients or nursing the baby in a humidified incubator .There is also an increased risk of skin infection and mechanical compression, leading to problems like limb ischemia.
The condition is not thought to be painful or in itself distressing to the child. Nursing usually takes place in a neonatal intensive care unit, and good intensive care seems to have improved the prognosis markedly. The collodion membrane should peel off or “shed” 2 to 4 weeks after birth, revealing the underlying skin disorder.
Ear Symptoms
The affected child usually have deformed auricle-Pinna, narrow external auditory canal filled with keratin debris. There is no associated inner ear-nerve hearing loss.
Treatment
As with all types of ichthyosis, there is no cure but the symptoms can be relieved.
and Moisturizers-emollients on the skin
and Eye drops to prevent the eyes from becoming dried out, like refresh tears
and Ear cleaning after instilling liquid paraffin ear drops or olive oil. The ear canal should be cleaned very gently under an operating microscope. It is better to avoid using any other waxolve or similar ear drops which contain chemicals which can do more harm.
