Kaposi varicelliform eruption in an elderly patient with severe malnutrition

Authors

  • Beatriz Elena Orozco Sebá Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Esperanza Meléndez Ramírez Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • José Tovar Berardinelli Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Laura Pereira Rodelo Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • María González Payares Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.38.3.616.52

Keywords:

kaposi’s varicelliform eruption, herpes simplex, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, immunosuppression

Abstract

Eczema herpeticum or Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption is a rare viral infection; however, it’s
considered a dermatologic urgency due to the high potential for dissemination, severity and
mortality. Immunosuppressed patients have a high risk of skin and visceral colonization in
addition to a higher probability of other infections caused by herpes simplex virus. Kaposi’s
varicelliform eruption is characterized by vesicopustules, some umbilicated, others eroded and extended in clusters. They may also present hemorrhagic crusts with an erythematous
base. The most commonly affected sites are head, neck, and trunk. These lesions are painful,
they take from 2 to 6 weeks to heal and are usually associated with systemic signs of
infection. Diagnosis is mainly clinical. In case of doubt, the Tzanck allows a rapid diagnostic
approach with a sensitivity of 40-80 % and specificity up to 100 % in herpes virus. Antiviral
treatment proved to be effective; additional antibiotic treatment is required if there is
risk of bacterial infection. The timely treatment of the infection is the key in the evolution
towards the recovery of the patient.

Author Biographies

Beatriz Elena Orozco Sebá, Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

MD Dermatología, Hospital Universidad del Norte. Médica cirujana Universidad del
Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia). Dermatología UBA. beatryorozco@hotmail.com.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7045-3580.

Esperanza Meléndez Ramírez, Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

MD Dermatología, Hospital Universidad del Norte. Médica cirujana Universidad
Metropolitana, Barranquilla (Colombia). Dermatología Universidad Javeriana,
Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia). esmelend@yahoo.com.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9987-6683.

José Tovar Berardinelli, Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

MD Dermatología, Hospital Universidad del Norte. Médico cirujano Universidad del
Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia). Dermatología UBA.j06tovar06@yahoo.com.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0787-1784.

Laura Pereira Rodelo, Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

Médico general Universidad del Norte. Barranquilla (Colombia).
lalypereira7@hotmail.com. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4516-1150

María González Payares, Hospital Universidad del Norte, Colombia

Médico general Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia).
maridc13@gmail.com. Código Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9840-2531

Published

2022-12-01

How to Cite

Orozco Sebá, B. E., Meléndez Ramírez, E., Tovar Berardinelli, J., Pereira Rodelo, L., & González Payares, M. (2022). Kaposi varicelliform eruption in an elderly patient with severe malnutrition. Salud Uninorte, 38(3), 946–954. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.38.3.616.52