Address
Jaipur
Email
editor@e-ijcd.in
Indian Journal Of Clinical Dermatology

CASE REPORT
Year: 2020 • Volume: 3 • Issue: 2 • Page: 51-52

HERPES ZOSTER WITH PENOSCROTAL SWELLING: A RARE COMPLICATION IN A HEALTHY CHILD

Malhar J Shah1, Pooja Agarwal1, Ashish Jagati1, Malay K Chaudhari1 1Department of Skin & VD, Smt SCL General Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Corresponding Author:

Dr Pooja Agarwal

Department of Dermatology, Smt SCL General Hospital, Ahmedabad Phone : 09426671569

E-mail – pooja.kgmc@gmail.com

How to cite this article:

Shah MJ, Agarwal P, Jagati A, Chaudari MK. Herpes zoster with penoscrotal swelling: a rare complication in a healthy child. JDA Indian Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2020;3:51-52

Abstract

Herpes zoster is characterized by vesicular eruptions over a specific dermatome caused by reactivation of varicella zoster virus in dorsal root ganglion during an immunocompromised state. Rarely, it can be multidermatomal in distribution. Usually an affliction of elderly, it is rarely seen in otherwise healthy children also and the complications are even rarer in children. Here we describe a case of a10-year-old healthy male patient with herpes zoster affecting the left S2-S3 dermatomes along with penoscrotal swelling as its complication. This case is being reported for the one of its kind of complication of herpes zoster.

Key words: Herpes Zoster, Children, Penoscrotal swelling, complication

Introduction

Herpes zoster is a disease characterized by vesicular eruptions caused by human herpes virus 3;varicella zoster virus(VZV). First episode by VZV causes chickenpox and it becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglion. The reactivation of this virus causes herpes zoster usually over a specific dermatome but in special scenarios, i t can be multidermatomal in distribution.Herpes zoster is usually a disease of elderly when there is frequent immunosuppression due to comorbid diseases. It is considered to be rare in children, though the incidence seems to be increasing. Complications are even rarer in children. Here we describe a case of a 10-year-old male child with crusts on left side of penis, scrotum along with significant penoscrotal swelling along with crusted lesions on left buttock and thigh. We report this case for a rare complication of herpes zoster seen in a healthy child.

Clinical Case

A 10-year-old male child presented to our OPD with complaints of swelling and pain over penis and scrotum associated with raw areas over left side of penis, scrotum and buttock extending to the thigh for 7 days. On probing, the parents gave history of vesicles over the same sites 10 days back for which they had consulted some nearby doctor. There was a history of difficulty in micturition because of pain but there was no complain of discharge per urethra. There was no history of immunization with varicella vaccine or history of chickenpox in childhood. There was no history of recent contact with any chickenpox or herpes zoster patient. On examination, there were few tiny discrete vesicles on an erythematous base on left side of penis and scrotum along with diffuse swelling over penis and scrotum, imparting a ram’s horn penis appearance (Figure 1a). There were erosions over left side of penis and scrotum covered with hemorrhagic crusts and they did not cross the midline (Figure 1 a). There were multiple discrete to grouped erosions covered with crusts and two ulcers (2.5×2 cm over left buttock; 2×1.5 cm over lumbosacral area) present over left lumbosacral area, buttock extending up to upper thigh(S2-S3 dermatome)[Figure 1b].

Figure 1 : (a) Crusted lesions over penis and scrotum with swelling of penis (Ram’s horn penis appearance) and scrotum,

  • Multiple discrete to grouped erosions covered with crusts and two ulcers (2.5×2 cm over left buttock; 2×1.5 cm over lumbosacral area) present over left lumbosacral area, buttock extending up to upper thigh ( S2-S3 dermatome).

The child was admitted, and investigations were done. A paediatrician’s opinion was sought to rule out any systemic illness or cause of immunosuppression. Routine investigations including complete hemogram, liver function and renal function

Figure 2 : (a) Decrease in the swelling and healing erosions on left side of penis and scrotum with reappearance of scrotal rugosities, (b) Healing lesions with superficial erosion on left buttock and left thigh.

tests were normal. Serum HIV was non-reactive.The patient was started onoral acyclovir(20mg/kg/ dose, 5 times a day), empirical oral antibiotics and analgesics which were given for 7 days. Regular cleaning of the ulcers with normal saline followed by scrotal dressing and bandaging was done for 7 days. General advice regarding increased water intake and avoidance of unnecessary movements were given. The lesions started improving from the third day of treatment. By fifth day, the swelling over penis and scrotum had decreased significantly with reappearance of scrotal rugosities (Figure 2 a). Erosions were revealed at the sites of severe crusting and patient was advised to apply topical mupirocin ointment (Figure 2 b). At the end of 7 days, lesions had improved significantly, and the patient was discharged with the advice of continuing topical antibiotic. Discussion

Herpes zoster is a viral infection caused by human herpes virus 3 also known as varicella zoster virus. Primary infection occurs in the childhood and isknown as chickenpox, which is characterized by multiple well-defined discrete fluid filled vesicles on erythematous base all over the body. The virus becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglion and during the state of immunosuppression, it travels through the nerves to skin and causes vesicular eruptions on skin over a single dermatome, known as herpes zoster or shingles.

Rate of incidence of herpes zoster is 3.40 cases per 1000 persons; in children <10 years, it is 0.74/1000.[1] However, it is seen that the incidence of herpes zoster in children is on a rise. Earlier it was presumed that childhood herpes zoster was a marker of severe immunosuppression in children due to malignancy, especially acute lymphatic leukemia, but recent studies have refused this hypothesis. Only about 3% of cases of malignancy were found to be associated with herpes zoster.[2]

This rise in the incidence of herpes zoster in children may be due to primary varicella infection acquired in utero or postnatally when the immunity of the child is not fully developed.[3] According to Terada et al, the immune status of the child at the time of acquiring varicella infection is the most important factor Grote V, Kries RV, Rosenfeld E, Belohradsky BH, Liese J.in determining childhood zoster. A decrease in lymphocytes and natural killer cells (NK cells) in childhood leads to reactivation of the virus.[4]

The most common dermatomes involved are thoracic (50%) dermatomes while sacral dermatome was less involved.[2,5] The common complications include secondary bacterial infections, corneal involvement in zoster ophthalmicus and Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Rare complications like meningoencephalitis,polyradiculitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, disseminated zoster and pneumonia may occur in immunosuppressed individuals.[6,7] Sacral involvement can lead to acute urinary retention due to detrusor areflexia.[8] Post-herpetic neuralgia which is observed in the adults is not observed in the children.[9]Though herpes zoster can be diagnosed clinically, important differentials include bullous insect bite hypersensitivity reaction, zosteriform herpes simplex and bullous impetigo.[3]

Treatment includes oral acyclovir 20mg/kg/dose five times a day for 5-7 days. Alternatives are valacyclovir and famciclovir which have good oral tolerability and greater efficacy.[10] These drugs have been proven to reduce the severity and duration but unfortunately, they cannot prevent post herpetic neuralgia. [11,12] There are many case reports and series regarding the prevalence of herpes zoster in pediatric population, but only a few report the involvement of sacral dermatome. Complications of herpes zoster are rare in children and penoscrotal swelling occurring secondary to herpes zoster in children is still yet not described in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Hence, we describe a case of a young healthy child with herpes zoster involving left S2-S3 dermatome and penoscrotal swelling for the rarity of this complication.

Reference

1. Jain A, Singal A, Baruah MC. Herpes zoster in a 9-month-old infant.Indian J Dermatol VenereolLeprol1999;65:294-5.
2. Agarwal P, Mistry A, Patel N. Herpes Zoster in Children: A ClinicoEpidemiological Study Over 4 Years at a Tertiary Center In
Gujarat. Ntl J Community Med 2016;7:536-39.
3. Prabhu S, Sripathi H, Gupta S, Prabhu M. Childhood herpes zoster: A clustering of ten cases. Indian J Dermatol 2009;54:62-4.
4. Terada K, Kawano S, Yoshihiro K, Morita T. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is related to the low response of VZV-specific
immunity after chickenpox in infancy. J InfectDis 1994;169:650-2.
5. Vora RV, Kota RK, Jivani NB. A clinicomorphological study of childhood herpes zoster at a rural based tertiary center, Gujarat, India. IndianJournal ofPaediatric Dermatology2016;17:273-6.
6. Grote V, Kries RV, Rosenfeld E, Belohradsky BH, Liese J. Immunocompetent children account for the majority of complications in
childhood herpes zoster.J Infect Dis 2007;196:1455-8.
7. Sampathkumar P, Drage LA, Martin DP. Herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia.Mayo Clin Proc 2009;84:274-80.
8. Acheson J, Mudd D. Acute urinary retention attributable to sacral herpes zoster. EmergMed J2004;21:752-3.
9. Katakam BK, Kiran G, Kumar U. A prospective study of herpes zoster in children. Indian JDermatol 2016;61:534-9.
10. Tyring SK. Management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. JAm Acad Dermatol 2007;57:S136-42.
11. Bader MS. Herpes zoster: diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive approaches. Postgrad Med 2013;125:78-91.
12. Chen N, Li Q, Yang J, Zhou M, Zhou D, He L. Antiviral treatment for preventing postherpetic neuralgia. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev
2014;(2):CD006866.

112 comments on “HERPES ZOSTER WITH PENOSCROTAL SWELLING: A RARE COMPLICATION IN A HEALTHY CHILD”

  1. Hey there are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  2. Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I抎 like to look more posts like this .

  4. отель в ленинградской области анапа цена
    гостиница мысхако отель риф адлер официальный сайт абхазия отели на берегу
    курортный комплекс гагрипш санатории фтс россии официальный сайт для пенсионеров санаторий белокуриха телефон

  5. спортивный комплекс лазаревское 800 рублей в белорусских рублях
    санатории по почкам в россии отели песчаное спа отель в алуште с бассейном
    таганрог гринвич парк отель пансионат надежда геленджик санатории железноводска без лечения

  6. родник санаторий пятигорск официальный сайт гостевой дом березка
    отель жоэквара абхазия гостиницы в голубицкой краснодарский край калязин гостиница
    санатории газпром гостиница каркушин дом псков отель северное море

  7. пансионат зеленая роща сочи где дешевле отдохнуть в крыму с питанием
    дом отдыха сокол мо рф отзывы гостиницы в губкине белгородской области отель планета краснодар
    санаторий им ломоносова геленджик официальный санаторий крыма спарта кола

  8. 13 кордон ростовская область аякс рязань телефон
    пансионат рассвет крым евпатория крым санатории отель фандорин кабардинка официальный
    русь 4 санкт петербург ravenna mare hotel restaurant отели балашиха

  9. аквамарин анапа цены на 2021 бунгало клуб абзаково
    санаторий кругозор лоо сочи отдых 2021 волжский утес цены
    дюльбер санаторий расул акташ туры в крыму

  10. санаторий фнс крым храм нерукотворного образа христа спасителя адлер
    какое море в краснодарском крае хорошко евгений викторович туры в евпаторию из москвы
    кто продает путевки гостиница в энгельсе туры в абхазию все включено с перелетом

  11. грязи сакского озера хилтон хэмптон краснодар гостиница
    гостиница севастополь официальный сайт санатории лечение псориаза отель шахты
    мамэзон олл сьютс спа отель покровка кедровый дом артем санаторий бригантина анапа отзывы

  12. заказать путевку небуг отдых 2022
    санаторий белая дача кисловодск гостиница ленинград в махачкале парк ривьера адлер
    ресторан сан ремо сочи отель пахра подольск туроператор по абхазии

  13. боровичи профилакторий отдых в карелии летом
    канатная дорога машук пятигорск гостиницы кореновска краснодарского края парк инн от рэдиссон одинцово
    санаторий лесной пятигорск официальный сайт спа отель в зеленогорске с бассейном до подмосковье мо рф официальный сайт

  14. санатории кисловодска туроператор 12 месяцев
    центр здорового отдыха жемчужина парк отель васильевский цены путевку в сочи недорого на 7 дней
    путевочка гродно гостиница мичуринск в мичуринске телефон марриотт красная поляна отзывы

  15. маринус кабардинка кавказ санаторий
    отель кристалл крым горячий ключ сколько км до моря отель дрова
    байкалов острог ольхон забронировать номер в краснодаре бассейн кчф

  16. забайкальск гостиница южное крым
    порто маре крым цены иваново отель союз официальный сайт рыбинск санатории
    санаторий днепр ялта официальный сайт грин хостел кузьминки санаторий восход феодосия

  17. санаторий светлана сочи адрес отдых на новый год в подмосковье
    микролиты почек что это азимут на тульской москва старые санатории сочи
    пансионат виктория пушкинский район официальный сайт как дешево отдохнуть в сочи в августе гостиница каштан даховская

  18. отель на большой конюшенной санкт петербург alian resort анапа
    букинг дивноморское комплекс спутник королев дюны санаторий сестрорецк
    отель приморье геленджик фото тирвас цены санатории ран

  64. Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?

  67. Hey! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the nice information you might have here on this post. I can be coming again to your blog for extra soon.

  68. I抣l immediately grab your rss as I can not find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  69. Thanks for the guidelines shared on your blog. Yet another thing I would like to convey is that fat loss is not information on going on a dietary fads and trying to shed as much weight that you can in a couple of weeks. The most effective way to shed weight is by consuming it little by little and using some basic ideas which can enable you to make the most from your attempt to lose fat. You may realize and already be following some tips, however reinforcing information never hurts.

  112. I have read your article carefully and I agree with you very much. This has provided a great help for my thesis writing, and I will seriously improve it. However, I don’t know much about a certain place. Can you help me?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *