[Childhood benign chronic bullous dermatosis. Differential diagnosis with dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid].

We review the literature on benign chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood and the criterions for its diagnosis and differentiation from dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid. The diagnosis among these conditions should be based on immunofluorescence data. BCBDC shows linear IgA on the basal membrane zone. Its course is benign and there is not enteropathy. In dermatitis herpetiformis we find granular IgA and complement in the tips of dermal papillae. It is a chronic illness and the patients have a gluten-sensitive enteropathy. The bullous pemphigoid is a severe condition which needs corticosteroids for its control. Direct immunofluorescent studies reveal IgG and complement in a linear pattern in the membrane basal zone. It is associated with circulating antibasement membrane zone IgG.