Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach
09:32

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach

Published on: September 26, 2019

Eczema herpeticum in children: clinical features and factors predictive of hospitalization

Nadia Jennifer Chiara Luca1, Irene Lara-Corrales, Elena Pope

  • 1Division of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|May 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Male sex, young age, fever, and systemic symptoms predict hospitalization for eczema herpeticum in children. Hospitalized patients may experience repeat episodes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Eczema herpeticum is a severe herpes simplex virus infection complicating atopic dermatitis.
  • Understanding risk factors for severe disease and recurrence is crucial for pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify clinical characteristics of pediatric eczema herpeticum.
  • To determine predictors of hospitalization, recurrence, and repeat episodes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 79 pediatric patients (0-18 years) diagnosed with eczema herpeticum.
  • Data collected on clinical presentation, hospitalization, and recurrence over a 9-year period.

Main Results:

  • Generalized eruption (76%), fever (56%), and systemic symptoms (37%) were common at presentation.
  • Hospitalization occurred in 57% of patients; predictors included male sex, fever, systemic symptoms, and age <1 year.
  • Recurrence rates were 8.9% within 1 month and 16% for repeat episodes (>1 month); hospitalized patients had higher risk of repeat episodes.

Conclusions:

  • Male sex, age under 1 year, fever, and systemic symptoms are key predictors of hospitalization for pediatric eczema herpeticum.
  • Hospitalized children with eczema herpeticum are at increased risk for repeat episodes.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations01:13

Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations

Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...