Parents warned by doctors as condition on rise among children who use electronic devices

Doctors say the condition could be caused by resting electronic devices, such as laptops, on bare skin

A condition caused by resting electronic devices on bare skin is on the rise in children, doctors have warned parents.

The warning comes after a pre-teen boy was diagnosed with erythema ab igne (EAI) – known also as toasted skin syndrome – after resting his laptop on his stomach for up to eight hours a day. The condition creates a net-like rash after long-term exposure to low level heat.

EAI is most commonly found in adults who use water bottles or heated pads, however doctors warn it is now becoming increasingly common among youngsters who use electronic devices. Medics say early recognition of paediatric cases can help children avoid unnecessary tests and prevent misdiagnoses.

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Writing in BMJ Case Reports, Dr Mara Znagoveanu, of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said the boy went to the children’s emergency department with “spontaneous bruising”. Neither he or his parents could pinpoint what had caused the rash

He was determined to be well, with with no trauma or symptoms such as fever or weight loss, and blood tests and scans came back normal. The youngster was discharged, however two weeks later he returned to hospital as the rash had worsened, becoming tender with areas of skin peeling.

While medics asked about common heat sources, further questioning revealed the boy was being home-schooled and used a laptop for learning. He reported resting the device on his stomach for up to eight hours a day, usually while it was charging, and was later diagnosed with EAI.

Dr Znagoveanu said: “As more commonly reported in adults, EAI may be overlooked in children, especially when the source of heat is less obvious than the traditional sources such as hot water bottles and heating pads.

“The increasing use of electronic devices, particularly during home schooling, has emerged as an under-recognised cause of EAI in paediatric populations.”

She added that EAI might be misdiagnosed in children, leading to “unnecessary investigations” such as blood tests or scans.

The condition is usually reversible and the rash normally improves over weeks to months once the heat source is removed. However, in some cases it can lead to persistent hyper-pigmentation.

A number of months later, during a phone consultation, the boy’s father told doctors that the rash had eventually disappeared.

Dr Znagoveanu said: “There are currently no formal paediatric guidelines for EAI, and diagnosis remains clinical, based on history and characteristic findings. A limitation of this case is the lack of in- person follow- up, with resolution confirmed by the patient’s family via telephone call.

“This case highlights the importance of considering EAI in children presenting with reticulated rashes, particularly in the context of increasing electronic device use. Early recognition through targeted history-taking can prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary investigations.”