Autoinoculation herpes of the hand in a child with recurrent herpes labialis

Herpes simplex virus infections involving the fingers and hands have been reported primarily in medical and dental personnel. A 10-year-old boy is described who presented with herpes simplex virus infection of his left hand two weeks after resolution of an episode of recurrent herpes labialis. Since herpes simplex infections of the fingers and hands may be confused with a variety of other more common conditions, clinicians should be alert to this possibility when diagnosing vesiculopustular lesions of the hands, particularly in medical and dental personnel and in patients with histories of recurrent herpes simplex infections elsewhere. A need for greater patient awareness of the potential for herpes simplex virus autoinoculation is also stressed.