Eccema herpético asociado a dermatitis atópica: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura

Eczema herpeticum is an acute dermatosis, caused by the cutaneous dissemination of herpes simplex virus in patients with atopic dermatitis and other skin diseases. It constitutes a dermatologic emergency and a potential life-threatening complication in these patients. Clinically, patients present with a disseminated vesicular eruption which progresses to crusts that cover punch-like erosions. The diagnosis is clinical, but it can be confi rmed by laboratory work-up. The antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogues, has reduced mortality from 75% to less than 10%. We discuss the case of a 15-year-old female patient with atopic dermatitis, who presented a facial vesiculopapular rash with malaise and fever. The lesions spread to the neck, arms and chest, and evolved into crusts and erosions. Eczema herpeticum was diagnosed and timely managed with acyclovir (1,500 mg/m 2 bs/day) and dicloxacillin (100 mg/kg/day) due to secondary impetigo. The patient was sent home without sequelae.