Gianotti Crosti Syndrome

Gianotti Crosti syndrome (GCS) is a rare childhood skin condition characterized by a papular rash with blisters on the skin of the legs, buttocks, and arms. It typically affects children between 9 months and 9 years of age. Skin lesions typically last at least 10 days and often last for several weeks. The lesions are usually preceded by an underlying infection (usually a virus), which may cause associated symptoms such as low-grade fever, sore throat, or symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. When GCS is associated with hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr, or cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, acute hepatitis may also occur. GCS is thought to be a hypersensitive response to the underlying infection. While in many countries the underlying cause is hepatitis B, this is rarely the cause in North America. GCS typically does not require treatment and goes away on its own within 1 to 3 months. In some cases, a mild topical steroid cream may be prescribed to relieve itching.