Experience with severe extensive blistering skin disease in a paediatric burns unit

Vesiculobullous disorders are thankfully uncommon. A brief overview of the literature is presented together with our experience of managing these cases on a paediatric burns unit in the six years 1992–1998. The advantages of management on such a unit are outlined and include a facility for major dressings and frequent changes and a familiarity with fluid resuscitation in the child with major skin loss. The financial cost of treatment and rehabilitation of these children is high.