Simultaneous parotitis and ipsilateral herpes zoster ophthalmicus: coincidence?

A 43-year-old previously healthy man presented to the primary care clinic with concurrent ipsilateral viral parotitis and herpes zoster ophthalmicus. The patient experienced painful swelling below the right ear as well as painful vesicles on the right forehead, eyelid and cheek in the V1 dermatomal region. There were no lesions in the oral cavity or nose. Antibody titres confirmed active varicella zoster virus in the absence of mumps or herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 and unilateral parotitis were confirmed to be non-suppurative by the patient's primary care physician and the neurologist. Both conditions resolved within 3 weeks with appropriate treatment.