Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis of infancy
Pronunciation: ee-oh-SIN-oh-FIL-ik PUS-tyoo-lar fol-IK-yoo-LY-tis
A benign, recurrent, non-infectious pustular eruption of the scalp and face in infants, histologically characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of the hair follicle.
Full Definition
Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis of infancy (EPFI) is a self-limiting dermatosis presenting in the first months of life as crops of pruritic follicular papules and pustules predominantly on the scalp, with occasional spread to the face and trunk. Unlike the adult Ofuji disease variant, the infantile form is not associated with immunosuppression or HIV. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is common. Histopathology shows eosinophilic spongiosis centred on the follicular infundibulum, a feature that aids distinction from other pustular neonatal eruptions. Editors should note that the term 'eosinophilic pustular folliculitis' without the qualifier 'of infancy' may refer to the adult or HIV-associated forms, and the qualifier must be preserved when the pediatric entity is the subject.
Usage
Usage note: Always include 'of infancy' when referring to the pediatric form to prevent confusion with adult or HIV-associated eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji disease).
In Context
- "Scalp biopsy from the 4-month-old revealed eosinophilic infiltration of the follicular epithelium, consistent with eosinophilic pustular folliculitis of infancy." — Pediatric dermatopathology report
- "The editor flagged the author's use of 'eosinophilic pustular folliculitis' without the age-qualifying phrase, which risked ambiguity with the HIV-associated adult form." — Peer-review editorial note