Kf. Chopra et al., Acute varicella zoster with postherpetic hyperhidrosis as the initial presentation of HIV infection, J AM ACAD D, 41(1), 1999, pp. 119-121
A 31-year-old man presented with acute pain in his left arm and hemorrhagic
vesicles that followed his left 8th cervical nerve. A diagnosis of herpes
tester was made, and the patient was treated with valacyclovir. He refused
testing for antibodies to HIV because he denied being at risk. Two months l
ater he returned with postherpetic neuralgia and postherpetic hyperhidrosis
in the distribution of the vesicles, which had since resolved. Serology fo
r HIV at this visit was positive, and the patient admitted to having sexual
relations with prostitutes. Six months later the patient was being treated
with triple antiretroviral therapy, and all signs and symptoms of postherp
etic tester had resolved. This case report documents the need for HIV testi
ng iri patients with unusual presentations of herpes tester even if they in
itially deny being at risk.