Eczema herpeticum in children with atopic dermatitis.

Eczema herpeticum (EH), a form of disseminated cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, is a potentially life-threatening disease. It usually occurs in individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) or other preexisting dermatosis. The resulting disruption of the skin barrier decreases the ability of such individuals to localize an HSV infection. We report eight AD cases with eczema herpeticum, seen from February 1989 to January 1996. Their ages ranged from 5 months to 6 years (mean age 2.5 years), There were 5 boys and 3 girls. Their laboratory data showed: IgE: 39 to 474, mean 197 IU/ml; eosinophil count 139 to 560, mean 314/mm3; Tzanck smear positive in 6 out of 6 patients; vesicle fluid culture positive for Herpes simplex type I in 4 out of 4 patients. All patients were treated with acyclovir and recovered.