herpes gladiatorum

Etiology

• herpes virus type 1 (most common)

Epidemiology

• common skin infection among wrestlers
• infections spreads by skin-to-skin contact
• blisters contagious until completely crusted over

Clinical manifestations

• clusters* of clear, fluid-filled blisters on an erythematous base
  • eventually the blisters crust over
    • majority of lesions may appear as crusted lesions
  • no pustules
• lesions may reactivate throughout life

* 2 blisters or fluid-filled vesicles considered cluster

Laboratory

• Tzank smear

Differential diagnosis

• eczema herpeticum occurs on a background of atopic dermatitis
• folliculitis & furunculosis present with pustules
• impetigo
  • itchy, raised, weeping patches with scaly borders that develop honey-colored crusts

Management

• oral acyclovir or valacyclovir
• athletes with Herpes simplex vesicles/blisters should not participate in wrestling while the eruption is in the vesicular stage

More general terms

• Herpes virus infection