Zoster-like Disease in the Newborn Due to Herpes-Simplex Virus

Abstract

CLASSIC herpes zoster (shingles) rarely presents diagnostic or etiologic difficulties in older children or adults. However, no etiology for unilateral grouped vesicular eruptions in the neonate has been established. Since the original report by Lomer1 in 1889, neonatal zoster has been reported 10 other times2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11; yet in none was the etiology proved by virus isolation. The purpose of the present report is to describe a neonate with a zosteriform eruption due to herpes-simplex virus.Case ReportC.Q. (38–35–80), a 12-day-old Negro girl, was admitted to the University of Maryland Hospital for evaluation of an acute vesicular eruption. The mother, . . .