1956/04/01 by NORMAN M. O'FARRELL · 1 citation
Medicine · #Medicine and Dermatology Studies History #Historical Medical Research and Treatments #Leprosy Research and Treatment
paper · doi:10.1001/archderm.1956.01550040070010
In 1946 Dobes and Jones<sup>1</sup>proposed the name ``erythema streptogenes'' for a scaling and depigmenting dermatitis seen most commonly in dark-skinned children. This is not a new disease, as it had previously been described in older texts under many names: impetigo furfuracea, pityriasis simplex, and pityriasis alba. Dobes and Jones believed that it was a streptococcal infection because they were able to culture hemolytic Streptococcus in five of seven cases, although sometimes several attempts were necessary to obtain the germ. Fox,<sup>*</sup>working on the same problem in 1923 and 1924, grew no bacteria. Pardo-Castello and Dominguez<sup>4</sup>grew no bacteria but did grow an Aspergillus fungus. With the advent of the newer antibiotic preparations there has been growing dissatisfaction with the name ``erythema streptogenes." The condition does not act like an infection. It responds to antibiotics no better than to the base without the medication.