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herpes gladiatorum

Etiology: - herpes virus type 1 (most common) Epidemiology: - common skin infection among wrestlers - infections spreads by skin-to-skin contact - blisters contagious until completely crusted over Clinical manifestations: - clusters* of clear, fluid-filled blisters on an erythematous base - eventually the blisters crust over - majority of lesions may appear as crusted lesions [3] - no pustules - lesions may reactivate throughout life * 2 blisters or fluid-filled vesicles considered cluster [3] Laboratory: - Tzank smear Differential diagnosis: - eczema herpeticum occurs on a background of atopic dermatitis - folliculitis & furunculosis present with pustules - impetigo - itchy, raised, weeping patches with scaly borders that develop honey-colored crusts Management: - oral acyclovir or valacyclovir - athletes with Herpes simplex vesicles/blisters should not participate in wrestling while the eruption is in the vesicular stage

General

Herpes virus infection

References

  1. Wilson EK et al. Cutaneous infections in wrestlers. Sports Health 2013 09; 5:423. PMID: 24427413
  2. Belongia EA et al. An outbreak of herpes gladiatorum at a high-school wrestlingbcamp. N Engl J Med 1991 09 26; 325:906 PMID: 1652687
  3. NEJM Knowledge+ - Wei EY, Coghlin DT. Beyond Folliculitis: Recognizing Herpes Gladiatorum in Adolescent Athletes. J Pediatr. 2017 Nov;190:283. PMID: 28728810
  4. New York State Department of Health. Communicable Disease Fact Sheets. Skin infections in athletes. Feb 2011. http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/athletic_skin_infections