title: An unusual presentation of herpes simplex in an immunocompromised patient.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a host-adapted human pathogen. HSV-I usually infects non-genital sites at a variety of locations. HSV-2 primarily involves genitalia. Both types can cause genital and orofacial infections, which are clinically indistinguishable. Initial HSV infection is usually asymptomatic or mild and self-limited, but instead of disappearing from the body during convalescence, the virus establishes a latent infection that persists for life. Rarely, there is severe visceral dissemination. This is a case report of an unusual presentation of herpes simplex in an immunocompromised adult patient with generalized skin lesions on the entire body. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of a disseminated herpes simplex in a patient with history of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Generalized HSV infection in immunodeficient adult patients could be fatal in spite of antiviral therapy. Early recognition of this entity is essential to expedite appropriate treatment and avoid future complications.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, San Juan City Hospital, CMMS #79 P.O. Box 70344, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8344. frank1298@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández González
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Malpica
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laboy
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male