Severe herpes simplex virus type-I infections after dental procedures
Lara El Hayderi1, Laurent Raty, Valerie Failla
1Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Severe herpes labialis (RHL) can occur after dental extraction. Patients with a history of RHL may be at higher risk, and dentists should be aware of this potential complication.
Area of Science:
- Oral medicine
- Dermatology
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Recurrences of herpes labialis (RHL) are often triggered by systemic factors like stress or fever, and local stimuli such as sun exposure.
- Dental extraction is a reported, though less common, trigger for RHL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report severe cases of RHL following dental extraction.
- To highlight the potential risk factors and management of post-extraction RHL.
Main Methods:
- Case series of seven healthy patients experiencing severe RHL post-dental extraction.
- Diagnosis confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I).
Main Results:
- All seven patients developed severe RHL 2-3 days after dental extraction under local anesthesia.
- Five patients reported more severe prodromal symptoms than usual.
- Two patients required hospitalization for intravenous acyclovir; others responded to oral antivirals.
Conclusions:
- Severe RHL can manifest shortly after dental extraction, particularly in patients with a prior history of RHL.
- The exact cause (procedure, anesthesia, or both) remains unclear, necessitating further research.
- Dentists should be aware of this potential complication and consider prophylactic antiviral treatment in at-risk patients.
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