Eczema herpeticum (Kaposi's varicelliform eruption) contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus

Eczema herpeticum, also known as Kaposi's varicelliform eruption, is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is usually appeared in patients with atopic dermatitis. It is considered an emergency situation, which may cause serious complications if not promptly treated. The reasons, for which some people with atopic dermatitis have increased vulnerability in developing eczema herpeticum, are barely understood, despite the extensive conversation in the literature. Contamination with St. aureus is reported in 30% of cases.We report the case of a young girl, aged 2 years and 9 months, that was brought to ER due to an extensive pruritic, rapidly evolving vesiculopustural eruption on a reddish-violet base, with multiple ulcerative lesions with pus, lasting a few hours. The patient had an ill appearance, with generalized malaise, loss of appetite and low-grade fever that was increased a few hours later to 39,2oC. An antistaphylococcal antibiotic treatment was immediately administered. The 2nd day of hospitalization the diagnosis of eczema herpeticum was established and acyclovir was added to the therapeutic regimen. The clinical and laboratory status of the patient improved. The duration of hospitalization was 10 days.