title: Severe acute pharyngotonsillitis due to herpes simplex virus type 2 in a young woman.
abstract: Whereas herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a recognized cause of acute oropharyngeal infection in young adults, HSV-2 infections are mostly associated with genital symptoms. We report a case of acute and prolonged febrile ulcerative pharyngotonsillitis with inflammatory syndrome which persisted despite antibiotic therapy for 8 days and required hospitalization in an 18-year old immune competent and sexually active female patient. HSV-2 was evidenced in tonsillar samples and blood by real time PCR, and HSV type-specific serology showed HSV-2 primary infection. Despite delayed diagnosis, acyclovir treatment led to rapid clinical improvement. This case highlights HSV-2 as an unusual cause of pharyngotonsillitis that should be reminded in sexually active patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, APHP Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France. Electronic address: jeremie.rosain@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jérémie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosain
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, CHI Créteil, France. Electronic address: antoine.froissart@chicreteil.fr.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Froissart
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie, CHI Créteil, France. Electronic address: elisabeth.estrangin@chicreteil.fr.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Estrangin
authors.affiliation: Service de Virologie, APHP Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France. Electronic address: flore.rozenberg@cch.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Flore
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rozenberg
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000821:virology; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: HSV-2; Pharyngotonsillitis; Primary infection; Sexually transmitted disease