Herpetic whitlow in a child with onychophagia: a rare form of cutaneous infection.

Year 2018, Volume: 43 Number: Supplement 1, 308 - 311, 29.12.2018

Orhan Akpınar

https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.413816

Abstract

Herpetic whitlow is a kind of finger infection caused by herpes simplex viruses. Herpetic ileus is a skin infection characterized by painful, nonpurulent, and erythematous lesions usually affecting the distal phalanx and rarely seen on the toes. It is especially common in children with finger-sucking and nail-biting habits. Often misdiagnosed as a bacterial infection, the disease sometimes receives inappropriate treatment.Physicians should be familiar with the subject for appropriate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In addition, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians and dentists contact daily oral secretions of patients infected with the herpes simplex virus. For this reason, herpetic whitlow should be kept in mind as a professional risk for health workers. A 4-year-old girl with a history of Herpetic whitlow is presented in this article.

Keywords

Herpetic whitlow, Herpes simplex virüs, Tzanck test

Onikofajili çocukta herpetik dolama: kütanöz enfeksiyonun nadir bir formu

Abstract

Herpetik dolama herpes simpleks virüslerinin neden olduğu bir çeşit parmak infeksiyonudur. Herpetik dolama, genellikle distal falanksı etkileyen ve nadiren ayak parmaklarında görülen, ağrılı, nonpurulent ve eritemli veziküler lezyonlarla karakterize bir deri enfeksiyondur. Çocuklarda nadir görülmekle birlikte parmak emme ve tırnak yeme alışkanlığı olan çocuklarda yaygındır. Bakteriyel infeksiyonlar ile karıştığından sıklıkla yanlış tanı ve uygunsuz tedavilere neden olmaktadır. Hekimler uygun teşhis ve uygun tedavi için konu hakkında bilgi sahibi olmalıdır. Ayrıca, pediatristler, ansthesistler, acil hekimleri ve diş hekimleri her gün herpes simplex virüsü ile enfekte olmuş hastaların oral sekresyonlarıyla temas ederler. Bu nedenle, herpetik whitlow sağlık çalışanları için bir mesleki risk olarak akılda tutulmalıdır. Bu makalede herpetik dolama tanısı alan 4 yaşında bir kız hasta sunulmuştur.

Keywords

Herpetik dolama, Herpes simplex virüs, Tzanck test

References

• References:
• 1- Murray PR,Rosenhal KS, Phaller A. Medical Microbiology. 6th ed Elsevıer Publishers and Distributors, Philadelphia, USA.2008; p.517-30. 2. Feder HM Jr, Long SS. Herpetic whitlow. epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Dis Child. 1983;137:861-3.
• 3. Bhumbra NA, McCullough SG. Skin and subcutaneous infections. Prim Care.2003; 30:1-24.
• 4.Gill MJ, Arlette J, Buchan K. Herpes simplex virus infection of the hand. A profile of 79 cases. Am J Med.1988;84):89-93.
• 5. Stern H, Elek SD, Millar DM, Anderson HF. Herpetic whit¬low, a form of cross-infection in hospitals. Lancet .1959;2:871-4. 6. Feder HMJr, Geller RW. Herpetic whitlow of the great toe. N Engl J Med.1992;326:1295-6.
• 7. Szinnai G, Schaad UB, Heininger U. Multiple herpetic whit¬low lesions in a 4-year-old girl: case report and review of the literatüre. Eur J Pediatr. 2001; 160:528-33.
• 8. Schleiss MR, Fong W. Primary palmar herpes simplex virus 1 infection in a ten-year-old girl. Pediatr Infect Dis J .1992;11:338-9. 9. El Hachem M, Bernardi S,et al. Herpetic whitlow as a harbinger of pediatric HIV-1 infection .Pediatr Dermatol. 2005;22:119-21.
• 10. Walker LG, Simmons BP, Lovallo JL. Pediatric herpetic hand infections. J Hand Surg Am.1990;15:176-80.