A case report demonstrates vesicular eruptions in a young male, indicating HSV-1 misdiagnosed as herpes zoster.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a common DNA virus that typically causes orolabial lesions. Atypical presentations, such as dermatomal vesicular eruptions, are rare and may mimic varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, complicating diagnosis. Here we present a case of HSV-1 with recurrent vesicular eruptions in the C4-C5 dermatomes, initially posited to be herpes zoster. Viral culture confirmed HSV-1, and the patient’s symptoms were successfully managed with valacyclovir and topical corticosteroids.
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Acosta-Peñaloza et al. (2026) studied this question.
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