A medical case report describes a young boy who developed a reddish-brown rash on his abdomen after daily use of a laptop computer.
Key facts
- •The rash measured approximately 15 centimeters (six inches) wide.
- •The condition is medically known as erythema ab igne, or 'toasted skin syndrome'.
- •The boy reported no systemic symptoms such as fever or fatigue.
- •Doctors Mara Znagoveanu and Edward Artley authored the report in BMJ Case Reports.
- •The patient's medical history and growth were otherwise normal.
Doctors Mara Znagoveanu and Edward Artley published a case report in BMJ Case Reports detailing a young boy who arrived at an emergency department with unusual abdominal marks. The rash appeared as a 15-centimeter patch of reddish-brown, lace-like lines. While initial concerns suggested potential trauma, medical examinations ultimately identified the condition as erythema ab igne, a skin condition caused by prolonged exposure to heat from a laptop.
Examination and Diagnosis
The boy, described as being in mid-childhood, reported no pain or tenderness associated with the marks. Medical staff initially considered spontaneous bruising, but physical exams and a CT scan found no internal abdominal injuries. A chest X-ray did reveal a small patch of whiteness over the left lung, though doctors noted this could be incidental.
Identifying the Cause
Although the patient initially mentioned a minor play-fighting incident to explain the marks, further investigation linked the skin condition to his daily habit of using a laptop. The heat generated by the device, when placed directly against the skin over an extended period, resulted in the characteristic pattern of the rash.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Ars Technica.
