All issues > Volume 46(9); 2003

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2003;46(9):918-920. Published online September 15, 2003.

A Case of Herpetic Whitlow with Bacterial Superinfection

Ju-Young JY Chung¹, Sang-Woo SW Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Ju-Young JY Chung ,Email: pedchung@sanggyepaik.ac.kr

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus infection of the hand in children occurs after auto-inoculation from herpetic gingivostomatitis or herpes labialis. Herpetic whitlow should be suspected based on clinical signs. Diagnosis can be made by PCR or virus culture. Many misdiagnosed cases suggests that this disease is not sufficiently known. Surgical interventions may be harmful and should be avoided. We report a case of herpetic whitlow with bacterial superinfection in a three-year-old girl.

Keywords :Herpes simplex virus, Whitlow, Bacterial superinfection