Korean J Dermatol.  2011 Dec;49(12):1098-1101.

Herpes Zoster Duplex Symmetricus in a Healthy Patient

• Lee SH
• Jung HJ
• Park MY
• Ahn JY

Abstract

Herpes zoster duplex, particularly herpes zoster duplex symmetricus, is a very rare manifestation of herpes zoster that occurs in immunocompetent patients. A 23-year-old Korean man presented with grouped erythematous, ruptured, crusted vesicles on plaques and papules on his forehead and both temporal areas. He had unexplained pain around the cutaneous lesions for the past 2 weeks, and the vesicles developed 1 week ago. A Tzanck smear test of the skin lesion showed multinucleated giant cells. A punch biopsy taken from the vesicle on the forehead revealed an intraepidermal vesicle with acantholysis and balloon cells at the floor of the vesicle. He was diagnosed with herpes zoster involving bilateral dermatomes.

Keyword

Bilateral dermatomes; Herpes zoster duplex

MeSH Terms

Acantholysis
Biopsy
Floors and Floorcoverings
Forehead
Giant Cells
Herpes Zoster
Humans
Skin
Young Adult