Hailey-Hailey disease associated with herpetic eczema-the value of the Tzanck smear test.
BACKGROUND
Herpetic eczema is a herpetic superinfection of a preexisting skin disease. Hailey-Hailey disease is an autosomal dominant dermatosis that is clinically characterized by flaccid vesicles and rashes in intertriginous areas. The coexistence of those findings is a rare condition; only five cases have been published in literature.


OBJECTIVE
To report the rare coexistence between Hailey-Hailey disease and herpetic eczema and to highlight the importance of cytology for a quick diagnosis.


METHODS
A 38-year-old man had been diagnosed with Hailey-Hailey disease for 13 years. His condition evolved into what could be herpetic eczema, which was later confirmed by skin cytology and histopathology. The man showed remission in the infection after 10 days under treatment with acyclovir.


CONCLUSIONS
Research on the concomitance of infection by the herpes virus must be performed in the exacerbations of Hailey-Hailey disease, and, in those situations, the quick diagnosis through skin cytology makes the early treatment possible.
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Thomás
T
de Aquino Paulo Filho
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Yara Kelly Rodrigues
YK
deFreitas
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Mylenne Torres Andrade
MT
da Nóbrega
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Carlos Bruno Fernandes
CB
Lima
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Barbara Luiza Medeiros Francelino
BL
Carriço
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Maria Aurora Pinto Leite E
MA
Silva
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Filipe Lauria
FL
Paulo
Department of Clinical Medicine, Dermatology Center, Rio Grande do Norte University, Natal, Brazil.
Pedro Bezerra da Trindade
PB
Neto
Hailey-Hailey disease; Kaposi varicelliform eruption; benign familial pemphigus