Skip to main content
Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology logoLink to Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
. 1996;4(4):239–242. doi: 10.1155/S1064744996000452

Treatment of Recurrent Eczema Herpeticum in Pregnancy With Acyclovir

Richard A Latta 1,✉, David A Baker 2
PMCID: PMC2364500  PMID: 18476099

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.

  1. 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]
  2. 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]
  3. 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]
  4. 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]
  5. 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]
  6. 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]
  7. 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]
  8. 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]
  9. 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]
  10. 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]
  11. 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]
  12. Zachariae H. Herpesvirus infection in man. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl. 1985;47:44–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES