Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Eczema herpeticum

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview

Overview

Eczema herpeticum is a disseminated herpes infection generally at sites of epidermal disruption such as atopic dermatitis, burns, eczema etc… The causative organism is herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2.

Eczema herpeticum results in a severe disseminated infection, involving multiple organs – eyes, brain, lung, liver and others and can be fatal. Treatment with systemic antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir or valaciclovir, is therefore needed.

When smallpox vaccination was still being routinely administered, the vaccinia virus used in the smallpox vaccine could cause a similar syndrome if the patient had an active eczema. This condition is called eczema vaccinatum. Eczema herpeticum and eczema vaccinatum are collectively known as Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption.

Causes

Drug Side Effect

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

Skin

Face
Extremities
Gluteal Region
References

References

External Links

Template:Disease-stub

Template:WikiDoc Sources

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH