During the period 1985-88, 30 children with a chronic blistering dermatosis were studied. Of these 25 were found to have chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (CBDC) and five had bullous pemphigoid (BP). No case of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) was seen in the same period. Except for the difference in immunofluorescence (IMF) there were no definite clinical, histological or therapeutic differences between the two groups. All the children were Africans with the exception of one Indian girl. Their ages ranged from 1 year to 12 years with a mean of 5 years. The females outnumbered the males in a ratio of 3:2. All children had a generalized eruption consisting of large tense blisters arising on normal skin. The blisters were more profuse on the lower trunk, pelvic region and limbs. Face and scalp were also affected. Histological features of BP and DH were seen. Direct IMF in the CBDC patients showed linear deposits of IgA at the basement membrane zone (BMZ) while linear deposits of IgG were seen in the BP group. Complement and IgM were also seen in some cases in both groups. Sixty per cent of the CBDC patients showed IgA BMZ antibodies by indirect IMF. There were no symptoms or signs of malabsorption. Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels were normal. HLA studies showed the B-8 antigen in five of the 20 patients studied. Therapy was difficult in most cases. All patients haemolysed on therapeutic doses of dapsone, sulphapyridine and/or prednisone had to be added. Follow-up was generally poor as six patients failed to return after discharge from hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)