Neonatal toxic erythema

Description

Neonatal toxic erythema is a common rash in neonates, appearing in up to half of newborns carried to term, usually between day 2-5 after birth; it does not occur outside the neonatal period and typically resolves within first two weeks of life. It is characterised by blotchy erythema with crops of evanescent small white or yellow papules or pustules. It is a benign condition and is thought to cause no discomfort to the baby.

Coding note from above levels

Conditions arising in the perinatal period, even though death or morbidity occurs later, should, as far as possible, be coded to chapter 19, which takes precedence over chapters containing codes for diseases by their anatomical site. For children less than 28 days old, assume that a reported condition developed in the perinatal period, unless the duration is stated and the onset was after the first completed week of life.

Inclusions

• Neonatal erythema toxicum

Exclusions from above levels

• 01 – Certain infectious or parasitic diseases - acquired after birth
• 02 – Neoplasms
• 05 – Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases