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"Recurrent herpes zoster": an unproved entity?
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984 Mar; 10(3):486-90.JA

Abstract

Physicians sometimes misdiagnose recurrent zosteriform herpes simplex virus (HSV) skin infections as "zoster" or "recurrent zoster." Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate therapy with potentially harmful consequences, particularly in patients with ophthalmitis or immunosuppression, in which early institution of the correct antiviral therapy may be crucial. We report three patients who were originally misdiagnosed to have recurrent herpes zoster skin infections before we cultured HSV from their vesicles. We suggest: (1) that most recurrent zosteriform eruptions are caused by HSV; (2) that "recurrent zoster" has yet to be documented; and (3) that the diagnosis of "recurrent zoster" be reserved for those patients who have laboratory confirmation of recurrent varicella zoster (VZ). Viral culture or examination of vesicle contents by indirect immunofluorescent technic can provide definitive diagnosis of the etiology of a zosteriform eruption.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors

Heskel NS
No affiliation info available
Hanifin JM
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHerpes SimplexHerpes ZosterHerpesvirus 3, HumanHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceSimplexvirusSkin Diseases, Infectious

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

6327783

Citation

Heskel, N S., and J M. Hanifin. ""Recurrent Herpes Zoster": an Unproved Entity?" Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 10, no. 3, 1984, pp. 486-90.
Heskel NS, Hanifin JM. "Recurrent herpes zoster": an unproved entity? J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984;10(3):486-90.
Heskel, N. S., & Hanifin, J. M. (1984). "Recurrent herpes zoster": an unproved entity? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 10(3), 486-90.
Heskel NS, Hanifin JM. "Recurrent Herpes Zoster": an Unproved Entity. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984;10(3):486-90. PubMed PMID: 6327783.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - "Recurrent herpes zoster": an unproved entity? AU - Heskel,N S, AU - Hanifin,J M, PY - 1984/3/1/pubmed PY - 1984/3/1/medline PY - 1984/3/1/entrez SP - 486 EP - 90 JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology JO - J Am Acad Dermatol VL - 10 IS - 3 N2 - Physicians sometimes misdiagnose recurrent zosteriform herpes simplex virus (HSV) skin infections as "zoster" or "recurrent zoster." Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate therapy with potentially harmful consequences, particularly in patients with ophthalmitis or immunosuppression, in which early institution of the correct antiviral therapy may be crucial. We report three patients who were originally misdiagnosed to have recurrent herpes zoster skin infections before we cultured HSV from their vesicles. We suggest: (1) that most recurrent zosteriform eruptions are caused by HSV; (2) that "recurrent zoster" has yet to be documented; and (3) that the diagnosis of "recurrent zoster" be reserved for those patients who have laboratory confirmation of recurrent varicella zoster (VZ). Viral culture or examination of vesicle contents by indirect immunofluorescent technic can provide definitive diagnosis of the etiology of a zosteriform eruption. SN - 0190-9622 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/6327783/"Recurrent_herpes_zoster":_an_unproved_entity L2 - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0190-9622(84)80099-7 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -