Authors
A C Mammena, B Deepthia, S C Majhia, M A Kumara, Suresh Kumar Kb
a Department of Pediatrics, VSS Institute of Medical Science and Research (Government), Burla, Sambalpur, Orissa
b Department of Dermatology, VSS Institute of Medical Science and Research (Government), Burla, Sambalpur, Orissa
Abstract
Carbon baby syndrome, also known as universal acquired melanosis is one of the causes of diffuse hyperpigmentation of skin and mucosa with only a limited number of reported cases in the literature. Here we report a case of universal acquired melanosis with a early presentation. A 26 day old male child born of nonconsanguineous marriage was brought to our department with complaints of progressive darkening of whole body since birth. His mother had uneventful prenatal, natal and postnatal periods. The increased pigmentation, which the parents noticed, started in the face and hands at the age of 20 days and then gradually progressed over the next 6 days to involve the whole body.
On examination, the child had generalized diffuse hyperpigmentation of entire body. Palms and soles were also involved. Histopathology of skin showed increased melanin pigmentation in basal and suprabasal layers of epidermis and a few melanophages in the dermis suggestive of carbon baby syndrome.
Keywords: Acquired universal melanosis, Neonate, Melanin