Disseminated herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus co-infection in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

We describe a case of disseminated HSV and VZV infection in an 80-year-old patient many years after splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This is the first case of disseminated HSV-1 and VZV infection with molecular evidence of the simultaneous presence of both viruses in two different body sites (the skin and cerebrospinal fluid). This adds to the three reports of patients developing cutaneous disseminated herpes zoster multiple years after splenectomy for ITP.

Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health - September 10, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Christina Bergqvist, Yasmin Abi Aad, Dany Nassar, Saeed El Zein, Souha S. Kanj Source Type: research