[A clinically unrecognised and persistent facial folliculitis: herpes folliculitis].
A 33-year-old woman presented with a 5-year history of a relapsing erythematous, indurated plaque on the left cheek. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) immunostain revealed the presence of HSV in the follicular and perifollicular keratinocytes. After oral treatment with valaciclovir for a period of 3 months the lesion disappeared without leaving a scar. At the last check-up, no recurrence had occurred. Herpes folliculitis has various clinical presentations. In rare cases it mimics a pseudolymphoma, as was the case for this patient. A viral aetiology, such as HSV or varicella-zoster virus, should be considered in patients with folliculitis, especially when the condition does not respond to antibacterial and antifungal therapy.
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, afd. Huidziekten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mleenarts@hotmail.com
Marjolein F E
MF
Leenarts
Hans L G
HL
Blaauwgeers
Rick
R
Hoekzema
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir