Unmasking The Blisters: A Case Of Pediatric Linear IGA Bullous Dermatosis Mimicking Bullous Impetigo

Introduction – Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is one of many diseases that fall under the umbrella of bullous diseases. It is a rare and chronic autoimmune condition affecting both adult and pediatric populations. In children, it is also known as chronic bullous disease of childhood and presents with a typical cluster of jewel-like appearance. Case presentation – We report a case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with vesicles and bullae over a course of 10 days. The patient was initially diagnosed with bullous impetigo and started on treatment with topical mupirocin and oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. Upon seeing no improvement, the patient returned and was diagnosed with linear IgA bullous dermatosis based on direct immunofluorescence testing (DIF). He was initiated on dapsone and topical corticosteroids, which resulted in gradual remission of the disease. Conclusion – Given that LABD is a rare disease, it is often misdiagnosed. Its clinical features, although typical, are not specific to the disease. Diagnostic investigations include histopathological studies and direct immunofluorescence testing. Although the diagnosis of LABD is challenging, its treatment is relatively simple with dapsone.