Disseminated herpes simplex virus: a case of eczema herpeticum causing viral encephalitis

Eczema herpeticum is a dermatological emergency causing a mortality of up to 10% if untreated. It frequently presents in a localised form and rarely disseminates via haematogenous spread with pulmonary, hepatic, ocular and neurological manifestations. Although it commonly appears on a background of atopic dermatitis, many other dermatological conditions have been described preceding this disease. Eczema herpeticum can be easily mistaken for folliculitis and is often treated accordingly with antibacterial drugs; therefore patients will often deteriorate before a diagnosis of eczema herpeticum has been considered.