A case of herpes zoster in a 4-month-old infant

Abstract

Herpes zoster in infancy is very rare but can be developed following intrauterine or postnatal exposure to varicella zoster virus. We report a case of herpes zoster in a 4-month-old male infant. He had no prior history of primary varicella or varicella vaccination. His mother had no history of varicella infection and no contact history with varicella during pregnancy. He had a history of exposure to his father with herpes zoster 3 months ago, and to his cousin with convalescent chickenpox 2 months ago. Multinucleated, giant cells were shown on a Tzanck smear. He was treated with acyclovir and first generation cephalosporin for herpes zoster with Staphylococcal skin infection, with complete resolution without sequelae.