DOI: 10.12890/2020_001746

Simultaneous VZV and HSV-1 Reactivation after Minor Head Injury

Authors

  • Romina Häfelfinger Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland
  • Anne-Valérie Burgener Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland
  • Michael Osthoff Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland
  • Eliska Potlukova Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland and University of Basel, Switzerland

romina.haefelfinger@gmail.com

Keywords

Herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, head trauma

Abstract

An 81-year-old patient presented to the emergency department with a dark lesion on his forehead and swelling of his left eye, 3 days after a minor forehead injury and skin laceration. He also showed singular papules on his chin, upper chest, upper arms and back, later evolving into vesicles. Polymerase-chain reaction testing of vesicle content was positive for VZV and HSV-1, confirming a diagnosis of disseminated cutaneous herpes virus infection and concomitant HSV-1 reactivation. Antiviral and antibiotic treatment was initiated for 1 week with an immediate response. This case report highlights the association of head trauma and subsequent reactivation of VZV in patients at risk. Simultaneous reactivation of HSV-1 and VZV is rare in immunocompetent patients.

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References

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Published

2020-09-21

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 12 (2020)

How to Cite

1.
Häfelfinger R, Burgener A-V, Osthoff M, Potlukova E. Simultaneous VZV and HSV-1 Reactivation after Minor Head Injury. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 21 [cited 2026 Nov. 4];7(12). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/1746

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