Md. Jakeer Shaik1, Rajesh Kumar Sethi2, Lalat Barun Patra3, D. P. Patra4
The term Congenital Lamellar Ichthyosis is used for newborns in whom all the body surface is covered by thick skin sheets, so called “collodion membrane”. Ichthyosis is an infrequent clinical entity worldwide (1:300,000 births). The collodion membrane is the result of an epidermal developmental dysfunction. The collodion membrane is composed of thick skin sheets which resemble translucent, tight parchment paper. In almost all of the collodion membrane cases an autosomal recessive ichthyosiform disease is implicated. Especially, in cases of lamellar ichthyosis, congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma and harlequin ichthyosis frequent association with collodion baby formation has been well documented. Clinically, the collodion babies may encounter dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, temperature imbalance and increases risk of sepsis because of relatively severe skin damage. Therefore, morbidity and mortality rates are fairly high in these cases. Conclusively, these newborns should be monitored carefully in intensive care units and is difficult to diagnose in antenatal period.
