Shingles without hutchinson sign developing herpes zoster ophthalmicus and preseptal cellulitis

Abstract

A previously healthy 69-year-old man presented to an emergency room with a vesicular rash on his right forehead in line with shingles (herpes zoster) secondary to varicella-zoster virus. The patient was negative for the Hutchinson sign, a rash involving the tip of the nose or nasal ridge, which indicates an increased risk of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). Only around 10-20% of shingles cases develop HZO, which is an emergent vision-threatening disease [1]. The patient reports history of chickenpox and denies any immunocompromising conditions [2]. He was sent home on a course of oral valaciclovir. Four days later he was brought to the emergency room with an enlarged, crusting rash encompassing the right side of his forehead to the eyelid with blurry vision and severe eyelid edema (Figure 1A). The rash was spread along the ophthalmic distribution of the trigeminal nerve completely within the V1 dermatome, indicating HZO.