"White dots on the placenta and red dots on the baby": congential cutaneous candidiasis--a rare disease of the neonate

Abstract

Cutaneous congenital candidiasis (CCC) is a very rare disease of the term or premature infant consisting of a generalized rash at or shortly after birth usually without other signs or symptoms. The presence of white microabscesses on the placenta and umbilical cord of an infant with such a rash must suggest the diagnosis of CCC, which is always secondary to Candida chorioamnionitis but may pass unrecognized. Despite the high prevalence of vulvo-vaginitis in pregnant women, Candida chorioamnionitis is rare and CCC remains apparently extremely rare with just some hundred cases described. However, as the condition is essentially benign and self-limited, underdiagnosis is likely. As occasional systemic spread of Candida infection is described and maternal complications may arise, diagnosis and a close follow-up or treatment is of importance. We present two cases of CCC, stressing the importance of sharing clinical findings between obstetrician and neonatologist for the diagnosis and subsequent management.