Eczema Herpeticum in Children

Clinical Presentation and Recognition

• The British Medical Journal recommends recognition of eczema herpeticum through characteristic lesions, including multiple uniform, "punched-out" erosions or vesiculopustular eruptions that are very similar in shape and size 1, 2, 3

Critical Management Principles

• The Taiwan Academy of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states that systemic antiviral therapy with acyclovir is indicated for eczema herpeticum, as it "may progress rapidly to systemic infection in the absence of antiviral therapy" 4
• Empirical antibiotics, such as cephalexin or flucloxacillin, may be used to cover secondary bacterial infection, as suggested by medical guidelines 5