Abstract
A 97-year-old lady was hospitalized for left leg cellulitis. Comorbidity included hypertension and congestive heart failure. While in hospital, she developed a painless vesicular rash localized to the territory of the left trigeminal nerve (third branch), which evolved to pustules and crusts (Figure 1). A chickenpox-like disseminated eruption of vesicles followed within 4 days, with the same evolution pattern (Figure 2).
The diagnosis of disseminated zoster was suspected. A PCR analysis confirmed the presence of varicella-zoster-virus (VZV) in an abdominal vesicle. The patient was treated with oral valacyclovir for 7 days. Clinical examination, laboratory tests (including HIV serology), and a chest radiograph revealed no evidence of underlying immunodeficiency or malignancy.
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Capron, J., Steichen, O. Disseminated Zoster in an Elderly Patient. Infection 37, 179–180 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-8287-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-8287-5