Acrodermatitis Enteropathica: A Rare Familial Disorder

Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare familial disorder with a recessive mode of transmission, first described in 1942. It primarily affects females and has a familial occurrence in 60% of cases, with siblings but not parents being affected. The disorder is characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, periorificial dermatitis, alopecia, and apathy. A case study of a 4-month-old patient admitted to Chelsea Naval Hospital in 1959 with recurrent dermatitis, diarrhea, and failure to thrive highlights the clinical presentation of this condition.