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Fifteen-minute consultation: Approach to recurrent cutaneous and ophthalmic herpes simplex virus infection
  1. Tomas Moore1,
  2. Clare Nourse2,3,
  3. Shuan Dai4,5,
  4. Tania Zappala3,6,
  5. Angela Berkhout2,3,7
  1. 1The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
  2. 2Infection Management and Prevention Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  3. 3Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  4. 4Department of Paediatrics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  5. 5Department of Ophthalmology, Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  6. 6Department of Dermatology, Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  7. 7Department of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Angela Berkhout; angela.berkhout{at}health.qld.gov.au

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in children is a common and challenging disease characterised by frequent misdiagnosis, a variety of treatment protocols and frequent recurrences from latent infection. With potential consequences such as pain, disfigurement, self-esteem issues, school exclusion and vision loss in eye disease, early diagnosis, informed management and appropriate interventions to prevent recurrences are essential.

Management of HSV disease typically involves the use of oral antivirals for cutaneous disease and a combination of oral and topical treatment for eye disease. For children with recurrent disease, management options include episodic or chronic suppressive treatment for cutaneous disease, while longer-term suppressive therapy is often recommended for eye disease.

  • Paediatrics
  • Ophthalmology
  • Infectious Disease Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Communicable Diseases

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-327381

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors TM wrote the initial manuscript. All authors discussed the research and best practices and contributed to the final manuscript. CN and AB provided paediatric infectious disease expertise, SD provided paediatric ophthalmology expertise, and TZ provided paediatric dermatology expertise.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.