Shingles Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Shingles, including details on symptoms, treatment, causes, virus.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an otherwise-healthy child.

Binder NR, Holland GN, Hosea S, Silverberg ML

Sansum Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic, Santa Barbara, California.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, although not uncommon in adults, is rarely found in children. Herein we present a case of pediatric herpes zoster ophthalmicus that is unique in 2 ways. First, the child had been vaccinated against varicella and otherwise had no known exposure to varicella-zoster virus. Second, the initial presentation of herpes zoster ophthalmicus was a painful and diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage that appeared before any of its classic signs were observed. We report this case to document the possible occurrence of herpes zoster ophthalmicus in children who have been vaccinated against varicella and the possibility of a diffuse, painful subconjunctival hemorrhage as a presenting sign.

Published 17 January 2006 in J AAPOS, 9(6): 597-8.
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