Ichthyosis and severe acute malnutrition

Ichthyosis is a cutaneous disorder characterized by hyperkeratosis of the skin. It is mostly congenital; however, acquired cases have been reported in patients with severe malnutrition. Furthermore, congenital ichthyosis has been associated with micronutrient deficiency such as vitamin D deficiency, resulting in rickets in ∼41% of cases. The two cases reported in this communication were 12 and 11 months old, correspondingly, with congenital lamellar ichthyosis. They had similarly feeding pattern and absence of family history of malnutrition in other siblings, but they developed severe acute malnutrition. The association of congenital ichthyosis with severe acute malnutrition is poorly understood; however, malnutrition has been reported to cause acquired ichthyosis.