Abstract
Background: Eczema herpeticum is an uncommon manifestation of an infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV). The disease is primarily seen in patients with histories of atopic eczema. Eczema herpeticum may be a life-threatening illness, but the mortality is felt to be <10% with modern antiviral and antibacterial agents. The use of acyclovir for other viral infections secondary to herpesvirus in pregnancy has been well documented. The authors now present a case report of eczema herpeticum treated with acyclovir during pregnancy.
Case: A patient with a history of eczema herpeticum presented in pregnancy with a recurrence. She was successfully treated with intravenous (IV) acyclovir with good maternal and fetal outcome.
Conclusion: Acyclovir may be utilized in pregnancy for several manifestations of HSV including eczema herpeticum.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (368.3 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Clive D., Turner N. T., Hozier J., Batson A. G., Tucker W. E., Jr Preclinical toxicology studies with acyclovir: genetic toxicity tests. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1983 Nov-Dec;3(6):587–602. doi: 10.1016/s0272-0590(83)80109-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- David T. J., Longson M. Herpes simplex infections in atopic eczema. Arch Dis Child. 1985 Apr;60(4):338–343. doi: 10.1136/adc.60.4.338. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garland S. M., Hill P. J. Eczema herpeticum in pregnancy successfully treated with acyclovir. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994 May;34(2):214–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1994.tb02696.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hazen P. G., Eppes R. B. Eczema herpeticum caused by herpesvirus type 2. A case in a patient with Darier disease. Arch Dermatol. 1977 Aug;113(8):1085–1086. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lau R. J., Emery M. G., Galinsky R. E. Unexpected accumulation of acyclovir in breast milk with estimation of infant exposure. Obstet Gynecol. 1987 Mar;69(3 Pt 2):468–471. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moore H. L., Jr, Szczech G. M., Rodwell D. E., Kapp R. W., Jr, de Miranda P., Tucker W. E., Jr Preclinical toxicology studies with acyclovir: teratologic, reproductive and neonatal tests. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1983 Nov-Dec;3(6):560–568. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nahmias A. J., Josey W. E., Naib Z. M., Freeman M. G., Fernandez R. J., Wheeler J. H. Perinatal risk associated with maternal genital herpes simplex virus infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1971 Jul 15;110(6):825–837. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90580-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schaeffer H. J. Acyclovir chemistry and spectrum of activity. Am J Med. 1982 Jul 20;73(1A):4–6. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(82)90054-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Swart R. N., Vermeer B. J., van Der Meer J. W., Enschedé F. A., Versteeg J. Treatment of eczema herpeticum with acyclovir. Arch Dermatol. 1983 Jan;119(1):13–16. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Utley K., Bromberger P., Wagner L., Schneider H. Management of primary herpes in pregnancy complicated by ruptured membranes and extreme prematurity: case report. Obstet Gynecol. 1987 Mar;69(3 Pt 2):471–473. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wollenberg A., Degitz K. Eczema herpeticatum in graviditate. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1995 Oct 13;120(41):1395–1398. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1055490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zachariae H. Herpesvirus infection in man. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl. 1985;47:44–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
