Perianal dermatitis of the newborn

Description

Perianal dermatitis of the newborn presents with perianal erythema during the first week of life, which in more severe forms may progress to oedema and superficial erosion of perianal skin. Although it usually occurs alone, perianal dermatitis may sometimes be associated with primary irritant napkin dermatitis. It is commoner in infants receiving cow's milk formulations than in breast-fed infants; it is assumed that it represents an irritant response to faecal constituents.

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.

Exclusions from above levels

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