Scalded skin syndrome: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency medical care for a baby, child, or adult who has rapidly spreading tender redness, fragile blisters, or skin peeling in sheets, especially with fever or appearing unwell.

   Call emergency services if the person:

   • Is difficult to wake, confused, faint, or unusually floppy
   • Has trouble breathing or develops blue, grey, or very pale skin
   • Shows signs of severe dehydration, such as very little urine
   • Is deteriorating rapidly

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Suspected SSSS needs urgent hospital assessment.

   After discharge, contact the treatment team urgently if fever returns, redness spreads, new blisters appear, drinking decreases, urine output falls, or a wound develops pus or increasing pain.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Routine follow-up is appropriate for planned skin, feeding, kidney, or infection checks when recovery is continuing and there are no new concerning symptoms.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Scalded skin syndrome. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.