Recurrent lumbosacral herpes simplex in the bedridden hospitalized patient

A clinical variant of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, recurre nt lumbosacral HSV, occurs in bedridden hospitalized patients. We want to c all attention to an uncommon pattern of HSV infection in the hospitalized b edridden patient seen by the dermatology consultation service in a large un iversity hospital. HSV is characterized by a mixture of recurrent groups of herpetic vesicles in all stages of development, with multiple, persistent hyperpigmented patches bilaterally distributed over the lumbosacral (buttoc ks) area.