High frequency of detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in the oral cavity of patients with eczema herpeticum.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA was detected in the oral cavity of patients with herpes labialis under various conditions such as during oral surgery.


OBJECTIVE
The frequency of detection of oral HSV DNA was compared between first or recurrent episodes of eczema herpeticum and recurrent type herpes labialis.


METHODS
Oral swabs were collected from 7 patients with eczema herpeticum and 9 with herpes labialis. The detection of oral HSV DNA was performed by the polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
Oral HSV DNA was detected in 6 out of 7 patients (86%) with eczema herpeticum and 3 of 9 (33%) with herpes labialis.


CONCLUSIONS
The high frequency of oral HSV DNA detection in eczema herpeticum suggests that subclinical herpetic lesions may develop in the oral cavity of patients with a first episode of eczema herpeticum or may occur during asymptomatic oral HSV shedding in people with recurrent eczema herpeticum.
First Department of Dermatology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Masami
M
Yoshida
Akinori
A
Amatsu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006560:Herpes Labialis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007617:Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral