RECRUDESCENT HERPES-SIMPLEX INFECTION MIMICKING PRIMARY HERPETIC GINGIVOSTOMATITIS

We report six cases of recrudescent intraoral herpes simplex infection clinically indistinguishable from primary herpetic gingivostomatitis. All infections occurred in healthy children or young adults. Serologi cal analysis demonstrated herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific IgG at i nitial presentation, indicating that the infection was not a primary i nfection. Convalescent sera exhibited HSV-specific IgM and a rising HS V-specific IgG titre. These findings demonstrate that the initial clin ical diagnosis of primary herpetic gingivostomatitis was erroneous and that what was actually being observed was widespread recrudescent int raoral herpes simplex infection.