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BMC Infect Dis
. 2023 Dec 6;23(1):854.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08809-5. Progressive shingles in a toddler due to reactivation of Varicella Zoster vaccine virus four days after infection with SARS-CoV-2; a case report
Christine Miller # 1 , Emma Taylor-Salmon # 1 , Leonard Emuren 1 , Marie Landry 2 3 , Anne Gershon 4 , George Miller 5
Affiliations
Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is the clinical syndrome associated with reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Several factors have been implicated to promote VZV reactivation; these include immunosuppression, older age, mechanical trauma, physiologic stress, lymphopenia, and more recently, infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2). Recent reports suggest an increase in the number of HZ cases in the general population during the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is unknown what proportion of HZ during the pandemic is due to reactivation of wild-type or vaccine-strain VZV.
Case: Here we report the first known case of HZ concomitant with SARS-CoV2 infection in a 20-month-old female who was treated with a single dose of dexamethasone, due to reactivation of the vaccine-type strain of VZV after presenting with a worsening vesicular rash.
Conclusion: In this case, we were able to show vaccine-strain VZV reactivation in the context of a mild acute symptomatic COVID-19 infection in a toddler. Being able to recognize HZ quickly and effectively in a pediatric patient can help stave off the significant morbidity and mortality associated with disease process.
Keywords: COVID-19; Herpes Zoster (HZ); Pediatric; SARS-CoV-2; Shingles; Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV).
. 2023 Dec 6;23(1):854.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08809-5. Progressive shingles in a toddler due to reactivation of Varicella Zoster vaccine virus four days after infection with SARS-CoV-2; a case report
Christine Miller # 1 , Emma Taylor-Salmon # 1 , Leonard Emuren 1 , Marie Landry 2 3 , Anne Gershon 4 , George Miller 5
Affiliations
- PMID: 38057696
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08809-5
Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is the clinical syndrome associated with reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Several factors have been implicated to promote VZV reactivation; these include immunosuppression, older age, mechanical trauma, physiologic stress, lymphopenia, and more recently, infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2). Recent reports suggest an increase in the number of HZ cases in the general population during the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is unknown what proportion of HZ during the pandemic is due to reactivation of wild-type or vaccine-strain VZV.
Case: Here we report the first known case of HZ concomitant with SARS-CoV2 infection in a 20-month-old female who was treated with a single dose of dexamethasone, due to reactivation of the vaccine-type strain of VZV after presenting with a worsening vesicular rash.
Conclusion: In this case, we were able to show vaccine-strain VZV reactivation in the context of a mild acute symptomatic COVID-19 infection in a toddler. Being able to recognize HZ quickly and effectively in a pediatric patient can help stave off the significant morbidity and mortality associated with disease process.
Keywords: COVID-19; Herpes Zoster (HZ); Pediatric; SARS-CoV-2; Shingles; Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV).