Published : 09 Sep 2026, 09:28 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:49 AM
Doctors are warning that children can develop a heat-induced skin condition after prolonged contact with laptops.
The alert follows a case in which a pre-teen boy was diagnosed with erythema ab igne (EAI), commonly known as toasted skin syndrome, after resting a laptop on his bare stomach for up to eight hours a day.
EAI causes a distinctive net-like rash after prolonged exposure to low-level heat, The Independent reports.
Long associated with adults using hot water bottles or heating pads, the condition is also being seen in children as they spend longer using electronic devices.
Writing in BMJ Case Reports, Dr Mara Znagoveanu of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust described how the boy first presented at a children's emergency department with what appeared to be spontaneous bruising.
Neither he nor his parents could identify a cause.
He had no fever, weight loss or signs of trauma, while blood tests and scans were normal, and he was discharged.
He returned a fortnight later after the rash worsened, becoming tender and beginning to peel.
Further questioning revealed that he was being home-schooled and spent much of his day with a charging laptop resting on his stomach — sometimes for up to eight hours at a stretch.
"As more commonly reported in adults, EAI may be overlooked in children, especially when the source of heat is less obvious," Znagoveanu said.
She added that the condition could be mistaken for other ailments, leading to unnecessary blood tests and scans.
The boy's rash eventually cleared months later, his father confirmed during a phone consultation.
EAI typically resolves once the heat source is removed, although it can sometimes leave lasting skin discolouration.
Znagoveanu called for greater awareness among clinicians, noting that there are currently no formal paediatric guidelines for the condition.
"Early recognition through targeted history-taking can prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary investigations," she said.
