Herpes simplex virus type 1: an atypical presentation of primary infection

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 2018; p. bcr-2018-224967
• Main Authors: Medeiros, Inês, Maximiano, Cristiana, Pereira, Teresa, Gomes, Maria Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 27.04.2018; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Acyclovir - administration & dosage; Acyclovir - therapeutic use; Administration, Oral; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Case reports; Cefuroxime - administration & dosage; Cefuroxime - therapeutic use; Child, Preschool; Dermatitis, Atopic; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hand; Herpes Simplex - diagnosis; Herpes Simplex - drug therapy; Herpes Simplex - virology; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 1, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Images In; Infections; Medical diagnosis; Pediatrics; Ulcers; Wrist; United States > US; paediatrics; dermatology
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224967

PCR assay of lesion's swab was positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and bacterial culture was negative.Infections tend to be unilateral, mild and self-limiting, except in the immunocompromised patient and newborns. 1 2 The authors want to emphasise the fact that the primary HSV infection can present in atypical forms, in which the lesions may be generalised, symptomatic, severe and with bilateral involvement.[...]this diagnosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other vesiculobullous diseases 3 .Learning points Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis is the most common clinical presentation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) primary infection in children aged 6months to 5years.