Diagnosis: Eczema herpeticum
Description: Primary lesion on the lips
Morphology: Pustules
Site: Lips
Sex: M
Age: 17
Type: Clinical
Submitted By: Ian McColl
Differential DiagnosisHistory: Eczema herpeticum (Sometimes called Kaposi's varicelliform eruption) is the spread of herpes simplex virus from the primary site into areas involved by atopic dermatitis.This widespread dissemination of the herpes virus may also be seen in burns,pemphigus,mycosis fungoides,ichthyosis vulgaris,Darier's disease and Sezary's syndrome.The condition is often characterised by marked skin tenderness and fever with small erosions where the vesicles have joined up and burst. In the case shown the primary infection was on the lips with spread elsewhere by rubbing and viral innoculation into areas of broken skin from eczema.