An Outbreak of Herpes Simplex among Wrestlers (Herpes gladiatorum)

Abstract

PRIMARY infection with herpes simplex is not generally manifested by disease. As a result outbreaks of illness due to this agent have not been commonly observed. Small epidemics of eczema herpeticum have been recorded, however, among children hospitalized with eczema1 , 2 and epidemics of herpetic whitlow have occurred at sites of minor nail-bed trauma among hospital personnel who were caring for patients disseminating this virus.3 , 4 This report describes an unusual outbreak of herpetic disease occurring among 5 members of a small amateur wrestling group over a ten-month period. The circumstances under which these infections were acquired indicated that they had resulted . . .