Eczema Herpeticum

You may have heard of cold sores or fever blisters. Yes, the same nasty blisters that pop up near your mouth. They will stay around for a few days and will subside on their own. This fever blister is generally caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. Another common skin condition is eczema. You may know what is eczema. The skin problem that is characterized by redness, itchy skin and skin rashes. The skin becomes irritated and blisters are formed in some cases. When both these skin diseases combine, they form eczema herpeticum. This is a life-threatening disease that needs immediate medical help. But, how do you recognize eczema herpeticum symptoms? Let us uncover some facts about this dangerous skin condition in the following paragraphs.

What is Eczema Herpeticum?
Eczema herpeticum is a rare skin condition that arises due to a complication of some common skin disorder. It happens when herpes simplex virus attacks a pre-existing skin condition like eczema. It can affect people of all ages and is not gender specific. It was first described by Kaposi in 1887 and therefore, also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE). Other names include Kaposi-Juliusberg dermatitis and Pustulosis varioliformis acute.

Eczema Herpeticum Causes
The eczema herpeticum causes involves the presence of a pre-existing condition like atopic dermatitis symptoms. When the epidermis of the skin is damaged due to seborrheic dermatitis, pemphigus, atopic dermatitis, etc. or due to skin injury due to burn, skin graft or sunburn, it causes eczema herpeticum virus to infect the skin. Herpes simplex virus 1 or 2 are the most common viruses to cause this skin condition. Other eczema herpeticum causes include coxsackie or vaccinia viruses.

Eczema Herpeticum Symptoms
Most of the time, a patient is unaware that they are living with herpes simplex infection. The eczema herpeticum symptoms are seen in people with very weak immune systems. The organs that are generally affected by eczema herpeticum are eyes, lungs, brain, liver, etc. The entire body is filled with severe, painful inflammation. The first eczema herpeticum symptoms develops within 5 to 12 days of exposure to the herpes virus. The initial eczema herpeticum symptoms includes small blisters appearing in the form of clusters. They are filled with watery blisters that may bleed and get infected. The blisters are extremely painful and cause fever. There are swollen lymph nodes as the infection spreads.

The skin that is damaged due to blisters develop secondary bacterial infection. Chills and malaise are also part of eczema herpeticum symptoms. Within 7 to 10 days of developing eczema herpeticum, there are new patches if infection is formed around the body. These patches are infected with streptococcus or staphylococcus. As the infection spreads, the lesions are filled with pus and become crusty. They begin to bleed if not treated as early as possible.

Eczema Herpeticum Complications
If one does not seek immediate eczema herpeticum treatment, it may lead to many severe complications. As this infection can spread to the eyes, it will lead to scarring causing blindness. If the eczema herpeticum leads to a systemic infection, it can lead to damage of internal organs. This damage may turn into a life-threatening condition. The infection makes the skin vulnerable to Staphylococcus aureus infection. This makes the condition of the patient extremely serious and the treatment becomes extremely difficult.

Eczema Herpeticum Treatment
Early diagnosis of eczema herpeticum is a bit tricky as the initial symptoms look like a bad case of eczema. However, with certain diagnostic tests the doctor may conclude the condition as eczema herpeticum. This skin condition requires one to be admitted to a hospital. The doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs like acyclovir and valacyclovir for eczema herpeticum treatment. In case of immunocompromised patients, foscarnet may be advised. In case of secondary bacterial infections, antibiotics may also be advised.

Is Eczema Herpeticum Contagious?
Many people have a query is eczema herpeticum contagious? The answer is yes, it is contagious. The answer lies with are cold sores contagious. As herpes simplex virus is contagious, it is bound to become contagious in eczema herpecticum. Patients are kept in isolation wards and given antiviral drugs to control the infection. Thus, it is very important to seek medical help as it is a really contagious infection.

If one is diagnosed with eczema herpeticum, do not scratch your itching skin as it will lead to secondary bacterial infections. The house should be vacuumed regularly to avoid dust and mites. Bathe with lukewarm water and do not stay in water for long. Avoid the use of chemicals, detergents, soaps, perfume on the skin. Take all the medications and precautions as advised by the doctor. This can turn into a serious complication, if one does not take proper care. Hope you have been able to learn and understand more about eczema herpeticum, a serious skin condition from the above paragraphs.