The condition known as Erythema Ab Igne (EAI), commonly called "toasted skin syndrome", is a type of burn caused by prolonged exposure to low-intensity heat. Originally common in people who use hot water bottles or heating pads, the condition has become increasingly frequent among children.
The increase in cases among children is related to heat emitted by electronics such as computers, phones and laptops, objects that children use with increasing frequency in their daily lives. Prolonged exposure to these low-intensity heat sources ends up causing skin damage.
A case review published by Mara Znagoveanu, from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, describes an emblematic case. A child arrived at a hospital emergency department presenting a skin rash without apparent causes.
Two weeks after the initial consultation, the patient returned to the hospital because the rash had worsened, becoming painful to the touch and showing areas of peeling. The case illustrates how the condition can worsen when not identified and treated properly.
