Differential Diagnosis for Neck Candida in an Infant
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Thrush: This is the most common fungal infection in infants, caused by Candida albicans. It typically presents as white patches on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, and sometimes on the neck, making it a likely diagnosis for neck candida in an infant.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Cutaneous candidiasis: This condition can occur when Candida infects the skin, often in warm, moist areas like the neck folds of an infant. It can cause redness, itching, and a rash.
- Intertrigo: Although not exclusively caused by Candida, intertrigo is a type of skin inflammation that occurs in skin folds and can be complicated by Candida infection, especially in infants.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Congenital syphilis: Although less common, congenital syphilis can cause a variety of skin rashes, including those that might resemble candida infections. Missing this diagnosis could have severe consequences.
- Leukemia cutis: Rarely, skin lesions can be a manifestation of leukemia. While extremely uncommon, the potential severity of missing a leukemia diagnosis warrants consideration.
- Rare diagnoses
- Histoplasmosis: A fungal infection that can cause skin lesions, among other symptoms. It's more common in certain geographic areas and would be rare in the context of neck candida in an infant without specific exposure history.
- Blastomycosis: Another fungal infection that can cause skin lesions, though it is relatively rare and typically associated with specific geographic locations or immunocompromised states.