Eczema herpeticum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eczema herpeticum is a complication of eczema where the patient gets a herpes infection in the eczema sites. The causative organism is herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2.

Eczema herpeticum results in severe disseminated infection, even extending outside the eczema-affected area. Treatment with systemic antiviral drugs, such as valaciclovir, is therefore started quickly.

When smallpox vaccination was still being routinely administered, the vaccinia virus used in the smallpox vaccine could cause a similar syndrome if the patient had an active eczema. This condition is called eczema vaccinatum. Eczema herpeticum and eczema vaccinatum are collectively known as Kaposi's varicelliform eruption.

Images of Eczema herpeticum from Pedoia