Medical Dictionary

staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

noun

Medical Definition of STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME

:  an acute skin disorder especially of infants and immunocompromised individuals that is characterized by widespread erythema, peeling, and necrosis of the skin, that is caused by a toxin produced by a bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus (S. aureus), and that exposes the affected individual to serious infections but is rarely fatal if diagnosed and treated promptly—abbreviation SSSS; compare toxic epidermal necrolysis

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