Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare and severe autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which the intestinal absorption of zinc is impaired.

Zinc is an essential trace element required by around a hundred enzymes and plays an important role in nucleic acid metabolism [1] [2] . The SLC39A4 gene located on chromosome 8q24.3 encodes the human zinc/iron-regulated transporter protein 4 (ZIP4) and plays an important role in the transmembrane transport and absorption of zinc [3] [4] . This protein is highly expressed in enterocytes of the duodenum and jejunum and is secreted in breast milk. Gene mutation can lead to poor zinc absorption and subsequent deficiency [5] . Acrodermatitis enteropathica occurs in 1/500,000 live infants [6] . There is no predilection for gender or race [3] [6] , with formula-fed infants generally presenting with symptoms between the tenth and fourth week of life [5] , while breast-fed infants present with symptoms a few days to a few weeks after weaning. Prevalence is estimated at between 1% and 3% in the United States and up to 20% in developing countries [5] . In Brazil, the frequency is unknown, but it is estimated that 1.5 million people are affected [7] .

The classic clinical manifestations of acrodermatitis enteropathica are characterised by an eczematous triad (erosive dermatitis, symmetrical acral and periorificial dermatitis), alopecia and diarrhoea. Paronychia, onicodistrophy, angular stomatitis, cheilitis, conjunctivitis and photophobia may also occur [8] [9] . The disorders progress with difficulties relating to: weight gain, growth retardation, neuropsychological disorders, anaemia, anorexia, and marked difficulty in healing wounds.

Zinc deficiency alters immunity, contributing to a high susceptibility to fungal and bacterial infections, which can trigger serious systemic scenarios and high mortality rates in developing countries [10] [11] .

Management of this condition is based on oral zinc sulfate. It is administered in doses that need to be increased during the growth acceleration phase. There is no consensus on the dose of zinc sulfate, but most authors recommend an initial dose of 5 to 10 mg/kg/day, with maintenance doses of 1 to 2 mg/d to be maintained for life.

The aim of this study is to report a clinical case of acrodermatitis enteropathica in an infant discovered by chance.

This is a 7-month-old girl, born at term (39 SA + 3 days) with a birth weight of 2150 gm, from a non-consanguineous couple and with no family history of acrodermatitis enteropathica or allergy. Her diet consists of breast milk plus commercial infant milk. She was taken by her parents to the Paediatric Emergency Department of the CHU Gabriel Touré for scaly and pustular erythematous lesions that had been evolving for 15 days. The parents’ history revealed chronic glairo-liquid diarrhoea and lesions initially located in the inguinal region (Figure 1(a), Figure 1(b)) and on the buttocks (Figure 1(c)).

At this stage, the patient was receiving various topical treatments (antiseptic, antimycotic, dermocorticoids). When the treatment failed and other similar lesions reappeared on the neck and left knee, the parents finally decided to consult a hospital.

The physical examination on admission revealed:

- Poor general condition, weight 6.7 kg (??percentage of expected), height 66 cm (% of expected???), (weight/height ratio = +1 Z score, corresponding to good nutritional status), temperature 35˚3, heart rate 168 beats/min, respiratory

rate 68 cycles/min and oxygen saturation in ambient air 97%. There was also an almost total absence of hair (partialis alopecia)—be specific with the type of alopecia the patient has—is it totalis, partialis, androgenetic, scarring, universalis etc?????

- Moderate conjuctival pallor, signs of dehydration (sunken eyes, slowly receding skin folds) and large, multifocal necrotic ulcerations on the neck, right inguinal region, buttocks and labial perlage (Figures 2(a)-(c)).

The diagnosis of staphylococcal dermo-epidermolysis was made and all treatment was directed towards this pathology for 15 days, combining (antibiotics, nutritional management) without any notable improvement. However, some additional tests were ordered, the results of which revealed:

- A very low plasma zinc level (8 µg/dl for a normal value of 70 to 120 µg/dl);

- Alkaline phosphatase (88.72 IU/L compared with a normal value of 100 - 200 IU/L);

- IgG (3.64 g/dl for a normal value of 2.5 - 5 g/dl), IgM (0.39 g/dl for a normal value of 0.15 - 1), IgA (0.08 g/dl for a normal value of 0.01 - 0.045);

- The CBC showed anaemia of 9 g/dl, microcytic and hypochromic;

- The mother’s plasma zinc was normal (20.7 umol/l compared with a normal value of 9 - 22 umol/l);

- HIV serology was negative;

- swabbing of lesions taken from the knee with cytobacteriological study found Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram negative bacillus) and Candida albicans;

- Zinc levels in breast milk could not be measured for technical reasons.

In the light of these results, the diagnosis of Acrodermatitis Enteropathica (AE) complicated by Necrotising Fasciitis was made. The treatment consisted of zinc sulfate at 3 mg/kg/day, antibiotic therapy adapted to germs with sensitivity (Amikacin) for Klebsiella pneumoniae and , antifungal treatment (Fluconazole) for Candida albicans; necrosectomy + wound trimming (Figure 3(a), Figure 3(b)) and nutritional support according to the department’s protocol.

The course was marked by a progressive deterioration in the patient’s clinical condition (weight loss of up to 5.6 kg, altered nutritional status), sepsis, persistent diarrhoea and multifocal necrotic skin ulcers, culminating in the patient’s death 57 days after the start of zinc sulphate supplementation.

Informed consent was obtained from the parents prior to writing this manuscript after a detailed explanation of the importance we attach to this rare case in our context. All images were provided by the parents.

Zinc is a trace element essential for the proper functioning of all cells and plays an important role in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. It is a cofactor in many metal enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase, RNA polymerase and many digestive enzymes [7] . Zinc deficiency can be acquired or inherited. There are many acquired causes of zinc deficiency including prematurity, low birth weight, deficiency in breast milk, exclusive parental mutation, malabsorption syndromes such as Crohn’s disease and Coeliac disease, diets low in calcium and phytates, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Kwashiorkor [6] .

Hereditary zinc deficiency is caused by an autosomal recessive mutation of SLC39A4, a gene on chromosome Aq24.3, which results in partial or total deficiency of the zinc transport protein ligand protein 4 (ZIP4) [12] .

The clinical manifestations of acquired and hereditary zinc deficiency are similar and consist of 3 essential symptoms: periorificial dermatitis, alopecia and diarrhoea, which occur in only 20% of patients [13] , as was the case in our patient. The disease begins with symmetrical erythematous, scaly or eczematous lesions, sometimes with vesiculobullous or pustular lesions located around the perioral, anogenital and acral areas. In our patient, the lesions were erythematous, scaly and pustular, initially localised to the inguinal region and buttocks, followed by large, multifocal necrotic ulcerations around the neck, right inguinal region andbuttocks, diffuse alopecia and labial perlage.

Without treatment, the skin lesions become erosive and spread to other periorificial areas of the face (eyes, nose and ears), neck, lower abdomen, back, inguinal region and thighs. In some cases, lesions may appear as psoriasis. Other mucosal signs include loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, glossitis, gingivitis, stomatitis, anychodystrophy, anycholysis and pachyonychia [6] [14] . Diarrhoea (the predominant extracutaneous symptom) is variable and may be intermittent or absent altogether. In children with watery diarrhoea, general symptoms and neuropsychological disorders are common (irritability, lethargy, anorexia) as well as growth retardation, weight loss and anaemia.

As in the literature, our patient presented with chronic diarrhoea, stunted growth and weight loss. Secondary bacterial infections (gram-positive and sometimes gram-negative) or candidiasis (candida albicans) are common and can alter the clinical picture [15] . This was also the case in our patient, who presented with a bacterial superinfection with Klebsiella pneumoniae and a fungal superinfection with Candida albicans, which contributed significantly to the deterioration of her clinical condition.

The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and confirmed by low plasma zinc levels and a rapid clinical response to zinc supplementation. In our case too, the diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms (chronic diarrhoea, skin lesions and alopecia), confirmed by low plasma zinc levels. However, zinc sulphate supplementation did not bring any clinical improvement, as the patient’s clinical condition progressively deteriorated. She developed septicaemia, persistent diarrhoea and multifocal necrotic skin ulcers, which led to her death 57 days after the start of Zinc supplementation.

As this is an autosomal recessive disease, genetic studies with detection of the mutation in the SLC39A4 gene, located in band 8q24, could have helped with the diagnosis. However, this test is not easily available in our centre.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare but serious condition. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosis and management of these patients. Early recognition of its clinical manifestations is necessary to avoid complications that may lead to the patient’s death.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Keita, A., Traoré, B., Dembélé, A., Diarra, R., Diarra, M., Cissé, E.M., Kané, M., Coulibaly, B. and Konaré, H. (2023) Enteropathica Acrodermatitis Complicated by Necrotising Fasciitis in an Infant Admitted to the Paediatric Emergency Department of the Gabriel Touré University Hospita. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 13, 831-837. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojped.2023.136091