Herpes zoster in a five month old infant subsequent to intrauterine exposure to varicella infection.

Herpes zoster is characterized by painful vesicular eruption in a dermatomal distribution of sensory nerves as a result of reactivation of latent herpes zoster virus in posterior root ganglia. The primary varicella infection is usually acquired in childhood and reactivation usually is seen in elderly. In rare instances herpes zoster can also occur in infancy as a result of reactivation of primary varicella infection acquired in utero or in early infancy. Here, we report a rare case of herpes zoster in a 5 month baby who acquired primary infection in utero from mother who had varicella infection at 6 months of gestation.