All issues > Volume 52(6); 2009

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(6):705-709. Published online June 15, 2009.

A case of acute aseptic meningitis associated with herpes zoster

Myong A MA Kim¹, Rita Miyoung RM Yu², Kee Hyuck KH Kim¹, Hee Jung HJ Chung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Health Insurance Corporation, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea
²Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Children`s Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Hee Jung HJ Chung ,Email: agathac@nhimc.or.kr

Abstract

Herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which affects nerve ganglions. VZV infection may be associated with neurologic complications, which are usually observed after vesicular exanthem. Acute aseptic meningitis is a rare complication of VZV reactivation. We report the case of a previously healthy 14-year-old boy who suffered from aseptic meningitis that was attributed to reactivated VZV infection with exanthem; the patient had undergone vaccination against varicella. This condition can be confirmed by the detection of VZV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated with acyclovir and recovered fully.

Keywords :Varicella-zoster virus, Aseptic meningitis