Eczema herpeticum: A medical emergency

Eczema herpeticum, also known as a form of Kaposi varicelliform eruption caused by viral infection, usually with the herpes simplex virus (HSV), is an extensive cutaneous vesicular eruption that arises from pre-existing skin disease, usually atopic dermatitis (AD). Children with AD have a higher risk of developing eczema herpeticum, in which HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is the most common pathogen. Eczema herpeticum can be severe, progressing to disseminated infection and death if untreated.1 Bacterial superinfection and bacteremia are usually the complications that cause mortality. We present a case in which eczema herpeticum was misdiagnosed as impetigo during a patient’s initial treatment. Detailed history taking and characteristic cutaneous findings can help clinicians make an accurate diagnosis.