[Bilateral asymmetric herpes zoster in adolescence]

Abstract

Zoster is a frequent disease of adulthood with a distinct age-dependent increase after 60. In contrast during childhood or adolescence zoster only rarely occurs. Certain risk factors such as hematologic malignancies are associated with early appearance. The typical clinical manifestation is unilateral, equally involving thoracic dermatomes. A 16-year-old patient presented with zoster in bilateral asymmetrical distribution, with trigeminal and thoracic dermatomes simultaneously affected. Despite the clinical findings and the unusual localization, there was no history, clinical nor laboratory signs of an immune suppression or any other underlying disease. Careful follow-up examinations are necessary in order to recognize systemic, especially hematologic, malignancies.