Ann Dermatol.  2011 Feb;23(1):67-69. 10.5021/ad.2011.23.1.67.

A Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Secondary to Acupuncture and Cupping

• Jung YJ
• Kim JH
• Lee HJ
• Bak H
• Hong SP
• Jeon SY
• Ahn SK

• KMID: 2171955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2011.23.1.67

Abstract

Acupuncture and cupping have a public reputation as being safe even though these practices can lead to complications such as trauma or infection. We report here on a case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection secondary to acupuncture and cupping in a 56-year-old woman. The patient, who had a history of acupuncture and cupping on her left forearm for treating her myalgia, developed painful papules. Histologically, the biopsy specimen showed characteristic ballooning degeneration and inclusion bodies in the epidermis and mid-dermis. These clinical and histological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of HSV infection.

Keyword

Acupuncture; Cupping; Herpes simplex virus infection

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture
Biopsy
Epidermis
Female
Forearm
Herpes Simplex
Humans
Inclusion Bodies
Methylmethacrylates
Middle Aged
Polystyrenes
Simplexvirus
Methylmethacrylates
Polystyrenes

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Multiple polygonal, erythematous papules with the traces of the cupping and acupuncture done on the patient's left forearm. (A) Biopsy site (arrow). (B) Cupping site (double circles) and acupuncture site (arrows).

• 

  Fig. 2 Characteristic ballooning degeneration and inclusion bodies in the epidermis and mid-dermis, which followed the track left by the acupuncture needle (H&E stain, A: ×40, B: ×200, C: ×400).

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