Eczema herpeticum
Encyclopedia
Eczema herpeticum is a rare but severe disseminated
herpes infection that generally occurs at sites of skin damage produced by, for example, atopic dermatitis
, burns, or eczema
. It is also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption, Pustulosis varioliformis acute and Kaposi-Juliusberg dermatitis.
Some sources reserve the term "eczema herpeticum" when the cause is due to human herpesvirus, and the term "Kaposi varicelliform eruption" to describe the general presentation without specifying the virus.
This condition is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus
type 1 or 2, but may also be caused by coxsackievirus
A16, or vaccinia virus. It appears as numerous umbilicated vescicles superimposed on healing atopic dermatitis. it is often accompanied by fever and lymphodenopathy. Can be life threatening in babies
, including the eye
s, brain
, lung
, and liver
, and can be fatal.
s, such as acyclovir or valaciclovir. Foscarnet
may also be used for immunocompromised host with Herpes simplex
and acyclovir-resistant Herpes simplex
.
Disseminated disease
Disseminated disease refers to a diffuse disease process, generally either infectious or neoplastic, but sometimes also referring to connective tissue disease....
herpes infection that generally occurs at sites of skin damage produced by, for example, atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic skin disorder...
, burns, or eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
. It is also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption, Pustulosis varioliformis acute and Kaposi-Juliusberg dermatitis.
Some sources reserve the term "eczema herpeticum" when the cause is due to human herpesvirus, and the term "Kaposi varicelliform eruption" to describe the general presentation without specifying the virus.
This condition is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 , also known as Human herpes virus 1 and 2 , are two members of the herpes virus family, Herpesviridae, that infect humans. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are ubiquitous and contagious...
type 1 or 2, but may also be caused by coxsackievirus
Coxsackievirus
Coxsackievirus is a virus that belongs to a family of non enveloped linear positive-sense ssRNA viruses, Picornaviridae and the genus Enterovirus, which also includes poliovirus and echovirus. Enteroviruses are among the most common and important human pathogens and ordinarily its members are...
A16, or vaccinia virus. It appears as numerous umbilicated vescicles superimposed on healing atopic dermatitis. it is often accompanied by fever and lymphodenopathy. Can be life threatening in babies
History
Eczema herpeticum was first described by Moriz Kaposi in 1887. Fritz Juliusberg coined the term Pustulosis varioliformis acute in 1898.Presentation
This infection affects multiple organsOrgan (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
, including the eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
s, brain
Human brain
The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion...
, lung
Human lung
The human lungs are the organs of respiration in humans. Humans have two lungs, with the left being divided into two lobes and the right into three lobes. Together, the lungs contain approximately of airways and 300 to 500 million alveoli, having a total surface area of about in...
, and liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
, and can be fatal.
Treatment
It can be treated with systemic antiviral drugAntiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
s, such as acyclovir or valaciclovir. Foscarnet
Foscarnet
Foscarnet is the conjugate base of the chemical compound with the formula HO2CPO3H2.-Uses:This phosphonic acid derivative is an antiviral medication used to treat herpes viruses, including drug resistant cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2...
may also be used for immunocompromised host with Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by both Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 . Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called cold sores or fever...
and acyclovir-resistant Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by both Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 . Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called cold sores or fever...
.