Disseminated herpes simplex virus: a case of eczema herpeticum causing viral encephalitis

• Main Authors: C Finlow, J Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 2018-01-01
• Series: The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Subjects: eczema herpeticum; herpes simplex; Kaposi’s vericelliform eruption; rash; toxic confusional state; viral encephelitis
• Online Access: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_48_1_finlow.pdf

Eczema herpeticum is a dermatological emergency causing a mortality of up to 10% if untreated. It frequently presents in a localised form and rarely disseminates via haematogenous spread with pulmonary, hepatic, ocular and neurological manifestations. Although it commonly appears on a background of atopic dermatitis, many other dermatological conditions have been described preceding this disease. Eczema herpeticum can be easily mistaken for folliculitis and is often treated accordingly with antibacterial drugs; therefore patients will often deteriorate before a diagnosis of eczema herpeticum has been considered.