Pediatric herpes simplex masquerading as varicella-zoster.
A three-year-old girl developed a generalized cutaneous Herpes simplex infection and a dendritic corneal ulcer. The clinical appearance of the lesions led to the diagnosis of varicella by a pediatrician and of Herpes zoster corneal ulcer by an ophthalmologist, who prescribed topical adrenocorticosteroids. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cultures were positive for the Herpes simplex virus. Topical antiviral treatment was applied, and the lesions healed without significant sequelae.
Aguirre Vila-Coro
A
A
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030-1697.
del Cotero
J F
JF
Bonafonte
S
S
D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000175:diagnosis; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000175:diagnosis*