Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption Follow-up

  • Author: Kerry A Lavigne, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 24, 2012
 

Further Outpatient Care

Patients with Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE) should return for follow-up care in approximately 2 weeks to assess treatment response and to monitor for sequela.

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Complications

Systemic viremia with multiple-organ involvement is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE). The organ systems involved include the liver, lungs, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and adrenal glands.

Septicemia from secondary bacterial infections of skin lesions also contributes to the morbidity and mortality of patients. Staphylococcus aureus, alone or mixed with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Peptostreptococcus species were found to be the major isolates from patients with secondary bacterial infections.

When KVE due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) involves the face, a risk of ocular involvement leading to blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and uveitis exists. Herpetic keratitis can lead to blindness due to stromal scarring. Interestingly, very few reported cases of ocular herpetic disease in KVE have occurred, even when positive conjunctival HSV cultures are present.

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Patient Education

For patient education resources, see the Skin, Hair, and Nails Center, as well as Eczema.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kerry A Lavigne, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Kerry A Lavigne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, and Pennsylvania Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Eric W Hossler, MD  Staff Physician, Departments of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, Geisinger Medical Center

Eric W Hossler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Medical Dermatology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Kathleen David-Bajar, MD  Former Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, Department of Dermatology, Brooke Army Medical Center

Kathleen David-Bajar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Jeffrey K McKenna, MD, and Paul Krusinski, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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Erythematous vesicles characteristic of eczema herpeticum with associated impetiginous crust.
Infant with crusted, erythematous, umbilicated vesicles of eczema herpeticum and associated periorbital edema.
Kaposi varicelliform eruption occurring with underlying Darier disease.
Characteristic umbilicated vesiculopustules on the thigh of a child with a preexisting atopic dermatitis.
 
 
 
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