Nocturnal sedation in a child with facial ulceration.

Mostly, herpes zoster affects adults and therefore childhood presentation can represent a diagnostic challenge. Childhood herpes zoster, when it occurs, can also be associated with peripheral nerve complications, as illustrated by this case. A 3-year-old child who had herpes zoster developed a nasolabial scar resulting in a shallow non-healing ulcer from being repeatedly picked. Healing was only achieved after nocturnal sedation, with chloral hydrate.