Pediatric Rash Linked to Prolonged Laptop Use on Abdomen

A child presented with a brown, lace-like abdominal rash that was initially mistaken for bruising. After a second visit, physicians diagnosed erythema ab igne, caused by prolonged low-grade heat from a laptop the child balanced on his abdomen for hours daily. The condition resolves with removal of the heat source, and experts advise asking about heat exposure when encountering unusual reticulated rashes.

Erythema ab igne arises from chronic, sub-burn-level heat exposure, with classic reticulated pigmentation. While adults often develop it on thighs from laptop use, this pediatric case uniquely involved the abdomen, stemming from up to eight hours of daily device contact during home schooling. The initial misdiagnosis as bruising led to unnecessary imaging and antibiotics. Diagnosis hinges on recognizing the characteristic lace-like pattern and explicitly questioning heat sources, as standard history-taking may miss such habits. The condition typically fades once the heat source is removed, though severe cases can leave persistent pigmentation.