Exceptional simultaneous herpesvirus infections: Pityriasis rosea and recurrent varicella in an immunocompetent child

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nikkels, Arjen F. | Nikkels-Tassoudji, Nazli | Thirion, Laurence | Piérard, Gérald E.

Affiliations: Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Note: [] Correspondence: Arjen F. Nikkels, MD, PhD., Department of Dermatopathology, CHU Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Tel.: +32 43662499; Fax: +32 43662976; E-mail: af.nikkels@chu.ulg.ac.be

Abstract: Dual cutaneous herpesvirus (α-α, α-β infections are exceptional. We report the first case of a simultaneous α- and γ-herpesvirus infection corresponding to recurrent varicella and human γ herpesviruses 6 and 7-associated pityriasis rosea in an 8-year-old immunocompetent boy. This condition likely represents a stroke of misfortune, although a special link between two herpesvirus infections cannot be formally excluded.

Keywords: Recurrent varicella, pityriasis rosea

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 173-175, 2006