Eczema herpeticum

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J.P. - 22 Jul 2004 16:47 GMT

Well, it was definitely a rough night. The girl and I are doing
research into what having herpes in our relationship might mean and
have come across something rather frightening: eczema herpeticum.

My girl has fairly severe eczema and from what we've read, eczema and
herpes can make for a deadly combination. A lot of the documentation
says that eczema herpeticum happens most often in children but there
are many adult cases as well. It becomes deadly when streptocaucus
(sp?) enters the pictures due to infection but my girl is of the
paranoid sort and the possibility is frightening.

There is the distinct possibility that the girl already has HSV-1 but
there is also the possibility that I'm the only one with it. We won't
know for a few weeks yet but the fear is beginning to build.

I'm horribly afraid that I'll be the only one with it and that she'll
leave. Understandably so unfortunately, but if herpes can kill her,
what are the options? There are so many questions running around in
our heads right now and we have no idea who to ask.

We go for our blood test today and the samples are being sent to the
University of Washington for the Western Blot test on Tuesday next
week. It'll be a case of waiting from there.

If anyone knows about eczema herpeticum, please let me know. Thanks.

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Tim Fitzmaurice - 22 Jul 2004 17:17 GMT

> My girl has fairly severe eczema and from what we've read, eczema and
> herpes can make for a deadly combination. A lot of the documentation

Erm Eczema herpeticum is a particular manifestation of herpes simplex
infection not an interaction between the two IIRC. A quick check in the
literature suggests you more likely to get it if you have atopic
dermatitis but it isnt required. Its rare for a start, not sure whether
its a host or virus factor that predisposes but thinking of the two
interacting may be running too fast and too quickly....also while bad
compared to a cold sore or two its described as similar to a
limited varicella outbreak...so chickenpox or shingles like in extent.

I'll do a bit more reading and see if I can come up with anything more
detailed and more current.

> says that eczema herpeticum happens most often in children but there
> are many adult cases as well. It becomes deadly when streptocaucus

A bacterial infection of open skin lesions with an unpleasant
strep species stands a chance of being unpleasant whenever and if her
eczema is bad enough thats already going to have been a risk anytime with
anyone.
Heck perfectly healthy people can get necrotising fascitis, but its not
something many people are going to deal with, although its possible for
everyone.

> I'm horribly afraid that I'll be the only one with it and that she'll
> leave. Understandably so unfortunately, but if herpes can kill her,

I think this is piling up risks and ideas that are minimal enough that if
she drives away from you or crossing the street in doing so you can argue
she has taken bigger risks already......

Hmm, OK that was rather undiplomatic but Im trying to grab your attention
back to the context so Ill leave it in.

What Im trying to get over is two points -
1) If you want to come up with horrible possible ways to die, nature has a
very very long list of possibles and rare HSV related ones come a fair way
down the list compared to other options.
2) Risk assessment is not about defining can X happen and so then avoid
it, but more how likely is X compared to anything else I will routinely
come into contact with and so what is reasonable effort to minimise any
potential problems.

> If anyone knows about eczema herpeticum, please let me know. Thanks.

Not a great deal on my part Im afraid, its a rarish presentation. Note
when it comes to HSV deaths (says he opening a can of worms probably) in
the literature its encephalitis that gets mentioned (and yes those are
VERY rare, I can do the 96 UK figures from memory I think if you want),
eczema herpeticum doesnt seem to get a look in.....Im digging a bit more
to see how accurate that is but Im moderately confident Im in the right
ball park.

I'll see if I can get some incidence rates for EH, and the normal outcomes
etc....

Tim
--
When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart
ICQ: 5178568

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Grant - 22 Jul 2004 18:04 GMT

My personal opinion is that you and her shouldn't worry about this sort of
thing. Heck, tomorrow I could develop a brain tumor and die within three
months. Not to make light of what you are both going through, but, the
point being, there's a lot of crap out there. I'm more likely to die in a
car accident than to die from something herpes related. The vast majority
of people of herpes type 1 and many, MANY of them have eczema.

If she leaves you for this...then she was probably looking for a way to
leave you before you were diagnosed.

Harsh opinion, I know!!!!!!

Take care,
ar

> Well, it was definitely a rough night. The girl and I are doing
> research into what having herpes in our relationship might mean and
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> If anyone knows about eczema herpeticum, please let me know. Thanks.

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Pain Devine - 22 Jul 2004 21:31 GMT

I think it's important to note that I've NEVER seen anyone come in here and
mention having Eczema Herpeticum... I've seen posts about people with herpes
in their eye... I've seen posts about HIV... I've seen posts about HPV...
But never ever anyone with Eczema Herpeticum. So, that tells me it must be
extreamly rare. It's not something I'd worry about if I were you.

The majority of people with herpes have very mild symptoms and nothing bad
ever happens to them... you both should be just fine.

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